Social difficulties in children with epilepsy: review and treatment recommendations

Abstract

Children with epilepsy are at increased risk for social difficulties compared with other children. This review investigated the types of social difficulties that children with epilepsy experience, the risk factors for their social difficulties and possible interventions for treating their social difficulties, such as social skills training, educational and speech and language interventions, and psychopharmacotherapy. Recommendations for future research on social difficulties in children with epilepsy are discussed.

Keywords::

• childhood epilepsy
• cognition
• development
• methylphenidate
• psychopathology
• social difficulties
• treatment

Acknowledgements

The authors were funded in part by a training grant from the California Department of Developmental Services, contract number LN069033 (EDH), NS32070 (RC) and MH067187 (RC). The authors also wish to thank the Lanterman Developmental Center for their contribution to this research.