Psychiatric and Psychosocial Consequences of Pediatric Epilepsy

Psychiatric and psychosocial complications with pediatric epilepsy are more common than with other chronic medical illnesses. Epilepsy is a disorder of hyperexcitable neurons and may have direct neurophysiologic effects leading to psychiatric comorbidity. Epilepsy also requires significant lifestyle adjustment, and the psychosocial impact on children and their families may be severe. The scientific literature is underrepresented in terms of diagnosis and management of psychiatric and psychosocial comorbidity associated with pediatric epilepsy. However, recent scientific efforts have assisted in highlighting the impact of these comorbidities and in bringing them to greater clinical attention. This review incorporates the available evidence with an aim to describe effective strategies for diagnosis and management.