Diagnosing Epilepsy During the Career Counselling Process: Treatment Suggestions

Research indicates that up to 50% of persons suffering from epilepsy also experience psychological problems. It is important not only to help patients distinguish between epileptic and non-epileptic seizures, but also to identify the presence of stress and stressors and to refer patients for appropriate therapy, which may include psychotherapy, behaviour therapy, physical exercise and identifying specific triggers (emotional triggers) to avoid seizures. Potential causes of and treatments for adolescent epilepsy, as well as the potential link between stress and seizures, are discussed. Four case studies, which exemplify the phenomenon of adolescent epilepsy, are presented. Therapeutic psychological and medical interventions have been successfully combined in the case of adolescents who were initially referred for career counselling but were subsequently diagnosed with epilepsy. It is suggested that the reason for referral will often have to be treated as secondary, while primary problems, such as epilepsy, will have to be dealt with first. Unless a "whole person medicine" (multidimensional) approach is adopted, the results of intervention may remain less than optimal.

Keywords:

• Epilepsy
• Diagnosis
• Treatment Suggestions