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Broadening the Perspective: Treating the Whole Patient
Author(s) -
Krämer Günter
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1046/j.1528-1157.44.s.5.5.x
Subject(s) - epilepsy , polypharmacy , ictal , depression (economics) , psychosocial , medicine , psychiatry , psychology , intensive care medicine , economics , macroeconomics
Summary: Seizures are not the only obstacles that individuals with epilepsy must overcome. Treatment of epilepsy must take into consideration that patients with epilepsy often face some form of depression, such as peri‐ictal depression, ictal depression, interictal depression, or postictal depression, as well as an elevated risk of suicide. Elderly patients, in particular, require special consideration, since aging affects pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics; women of childbearing age also require additional counseling. Treatment strategies that focus only on seizure reduction are inadequate and unsuccessful in up to one half of all patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy requires broad treatment strategies that address the needs of the whole patient. Age, genetic factors, gender, diet, use of alcohol and nicotine, comorbidities, and polypharmacy all are important factors to consider in determining a successful epilepsy treatment strategy. Epilepsy affects many aspects of psychosocial function, and optimal outcomes require that the needs of the whole patient be adequately addressed.