TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of a multidisciplinary epilepsy transition clinic for adolescents
AU - Geerlings, R. P. J.
AU - Aldenkamp, A. P.
AU - Gottmer-Welschen, L. M. C.
AU - de With, P. H. N.
AU - Zinger, S.
AU - van Staa, A. L.
AU - de Louw, A. J. A.
PY - 2016/5
Y1 - 2016/5
N2 - Introduction: The main goal of the transition clinic is to explore and optimize medical issues during transition from adolescence to adulthood, and to ease the transition into adult care. However, only limited data on the process and outcomes of transitional care in clinical practice are available. Objective: To describe the process and outcomes of an Epilepsy Transition Clinic in a tertiary referral center in The Netherlands. Methods: Data were collected from patients with epilepsy (aged 15-25 years), who visited the transition clinic between March 2012 and September 2014. Results: The Epilepsy Transition Clinic is staffed with a multidisciplinary team including a neurologist/epileptologist, clinical neuropsychologist, a social worker and an educationalist/occupational counselor, all with knowledge of paediatric and adult medical and developmental issues. In total, 117 patients with epilepsy were included in the analysis. After consultation, 89 patients received a diagnostic work-up (76.1%), change in AED prescription (n = 64, 54.7%), or consultation/tailored advice (n = 73, 62.4%). In fourteen patients (12.0%) the epilepsy diagnosis was changed. Nineteen patients (16.2%) had complete epilepsy remission for over one year. Forty-three patients (36.8%) were referred to adult care. Conclusion: This study describes a multidisciplinary epilepsy transition clinic staffed by a neurologist/epileptologist, neuropsychologist, a social worker and an educationalist/occupational counselor. Diagnostic work-up and evaluation of psychosocial and educational/vocational status during adolescence are strongly recommended.
AB - Introduction: The main goal of the transition clinic is to explore and optimize medical issues during transition from adolescence to adulthood, and to ease the transition into adult care. However, only limited data on the process and outcomes of transitional care in clinical practice are available. Objective: To describe the process and outcomes of an Epilepsy Transition Clinic in a tertiary referral center in The Netherlands. Methods: Data were collected from patients with epilepsy (aged 15-25 years), who visited the transition clinic between March 2012 and September 2014. Results: The Epilepsy Transition Clinic is staffed with a multidisciplinary team including a neurologist/epileptologist, clinical neuropsychologist, a social worker and an educationalist/occupational counselor, all with knowledge of paediatric and adult medical and developmental issues. In total, 117 patients with epilepsy were included in the analysis. After consultation, 89 patients received a diagnostic work-up (76.1%), change in AED prescription (n = 64, 54.7%), or consultation/tailored advice (n = 73, 62.4%). In fourteen patients (12.0%) the epilepsy diagnosis was changed. Nineteen patients (16.2%) had complete epilepsy remission for over one year. Forty-three patients (36.8%) were referred to adult care. Conclusion: This study describes a multidisciplinary epilepsy transition clinic staffed by a neurologist/epileptologist, neuropsychologist, a social worker and an educationalist/occupational counselor. Diagnostic work-up and evaluation of psychosocial and educational/vocational status during adolescence are strongly recommended.
KW - Transition to adult care
KW - Epilepsy transition clinic
KW - Adolescence
KW - Psychosocial
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejpn.2016.01.003
DO - 10.1016/j.ejpn.2016.01.003
M3 - Article
SN - 1090-3798
VL - 20
SP - 385
EP - 392
JO - European Journal of Paediatric Neurology
JF - European Journal of Paediatric Neurology
IS - 3
ER -