Full Description
Though clinical aspects of epilepsy such as seizure control are crucially important to its management, increasing attention is being given to wider quality of life issues. Epilepsy continues to be an often misunderstood and stigmatising condition; for the vast majority of people whose seizures can be well controlled, the social and psychological repercussions are often of greater significance than the seizures themselves.
The increasing emphasis on the importance of non-clinical outcomes in the assessment of new treatments and management strategies for chronic conditions such as epilepsy has stimulated interest in methodological issues in assessing quality of life. This book reviews the recent literature on the impact of epilepsy on everyday experience and the methodological issues involved in assessing that impact. It also considers the perspectives of a range of health professionals involved in caring for people with epilepsy and how, through appropriate management, the impact on their lives can be minimised.
Contents
The Problem of Epilepsy. Management of Epilepsy from Diagnosis to Intractability. Managing Cognitive and Behavioural Consequences of Epilepsy. Theoretical and Methodological Issues in Measuring Quality of Life. A Review of Currently Available Quality of Life Measures. Impact of Epilepsy on Quality of Life in Adults: A Review. Quality of Life Issues for Children and Adolescents with Epilepsy. Quality of Life Issues for Older People with Epilepsy. Epilepsy and Learning Disability. Implications for Quality of Life. A Physician Reflects on Quality of Life. Can Quality of Life Assessments Contribute to Everyday Clinical Practice? Use of Quality of Life Assessment as an Outcome Measure in Clinical Research. Quality of life as an Outcome Measure: A Pharmaceutical Industry Perspective. Living with Epilepsy: A Personal Account. Living with Epilepsy: A Family Account. The Role of the Primary Care Practitioner. The Contribution of the Clinical Psychologist. The Contribution of the Nurse. The Role of the Social Worker. Support Groups for People with Epilepsy. Improving Quality of Life: The Next Steps.
