Epilepsy, the most common childhood neurological disorder, is much more prevalent in children than in adults. Psychiatric disorders occur much more frequently in children with epilepsy than in children without epilepsy. Some of the more common disorders include:
It is often difficult to determine, however, whether these disorders are the:
Whatever the reason for the presence of such disorders, multi-dimensional therapy for epilepsy is most effective in children with cognitive and behavioral disorders. Neurobehavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy is a valuable complementary treatment to antiepileptic medication.
Neurobehavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy are used to treat a variety of neurological disorders in both children and adults. It helps the individual to identify negative thoughts and behaviors and learn to modify these to produce positive, helpful thoughts and behaviors that promote health and healing. This therapy for epilepsy also examines environmental factors that may contribute to the problem.
By adjusting patterns of thought and behavior, neurobehavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy is thought to:
This therapy for epilepsy may be particularly effective in children, whose thoughts and behaviors are likely to be more malleable at a young age.
According to the Neurobehavioral Institute in Weston, Florida, neurobehavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy have been shown to be an effective method of treatment for a variety of cognitive and behavioral disorders. In some epilepsy patients, it has had the effect of reducing behavioral disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
During neurobehavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy treatments for epilepsy, the individual works closely with her therapist to formulate the right treatment plan for her. As a result, individuals tend to have a better long-term commitment to their own individualized treatment plan.
The disadvantages of this particular therapy for epilepsy include:
There are no known health risks associated with neurobehavioral and cognitive behavioral therapy for epilepsy. This is provided, of course, that the individual continues to take his prescribed seizure medication during and after behavioral therapy (unless otherwise instructed by their physician). Some individuals may be able to reduce his seizure medication after the behavioral therapy for epilepsy has been completed successfully.
Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Staff. (n.d.). What is CBT?: Definition and background. Retrieved April 2, 2010, from http://www.aacbtwa.org.au/viewStory/Definition and Background
Ekinci, O., et al. (2009). Depression and anxiety in children and adolescents with epilepsy: Prevalence, risk factors, and treatment. Retrieved April 2, 2010, from https://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsyusa/yebeh/upload/Depression_anxiety_children_ adolescents.pdf
Epilepsy Ontario Staff. (n.d.). Behavioural therapy. Retrieved April 2, 2010, from http://www.epilepsyontario.org/client/EO/EOWeb.nsf/web/Behavioural Therapy
Hermann, B., et al. (2010). Cognition across the lifespan: Antiepileptic drugs, epilepsy, or both? Retrieved April 2, 2010, from https://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsyusa/yebeh/upload/cognition_across_lifespan _AEDs.pdf
Jeavons, M., et al. (2009). Behavioral strategies. Retrieved April 2, 2010, from http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Pain/Behavioural-Strategies.aspx?articleID=7129
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