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Adult Epilepsy

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Physician's Field Guide to Neuropsychology

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Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases, which can arise from a variety of etiologies. Given the heterogeneity of the disease, patients with epilepsy can have vastly different levels of intellectual and neurocognitive functioning. Neuropsychological evaluations can be used in patients with a variety of epilepsy syndromes in order to assess their neurocognitive strengths and weaknesses so as to aid in understanding their level of functioning and in informing, planning, and evaluating various interventions and treatment plans. This chapter briefly outlines how comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations are generally used in assessing patients with epilepsy. The main focus of the chapter provides a more comprehensive review of how neuropsychological evaluations are used in the pre- and postsurgical management of patients with epilepsy, most commonly patients with medically intractable mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UW Medicine—Valley Medical Center Neuroscience Institute, Renton, WA, USA

    Erica M. Brandling-Bennett & David G. Vossler

Authors
  1. Erica M. Brandling-Bennett
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  2. David G. Vossler
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA

    Karen M. Sanders

Chapter Review Questions

Chapter Review Questions

  1. 1.

    Why is it important to recommend that patients with epilepsy who have cognitive complaints undergo a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation as opposed to undergoing just a quick mental status examination? Should only patients with medically intractable epilepsy be referred for neuropsychological evaluations? Explain.

  2. 2.

    Why is it important that neurologists and neuropsychologists assess and be aware of psychiatric comorbidities in patients with epilepsy?

  3. 3.

    What is the role of the neuropsychologist in the presurgical workup and treatment of patients with epilepsy who are being considered for a neurosurgical resection to treat their medically intractable epilepsy? How does the neuropsychologist complement the entire surgical epilepsy treatment team?

  4. 4.

    What are some of the cognitive concerns that may arise in patients with epilepsy who are experiencing frequent seizures? What are some of the cognitive concerns involved in undergoing a neurosurgical resection to treat medically intractable epilepsy?

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Brandling-Bennett, E.M., Vossler, D.G. (2019). Adult Epilepsy. In: Sanders, K. (eds) Physician's Field Guide to Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8722-1_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8722-1_22

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-8720-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-8722-1

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