Transition in patients with childhood-onset epilepsy: a long way to adulthood

This dissertation offers insights into the medical and social challenges facing adolescents and young adults with chronic epilepsy during the transition from childhood to adulthood. A transitional outpatient clinic can identify these problems and facilitate the transition from paediatric to adult healthcare. This dissertation also describes the methods, results and long-term effects of the multidisciplinary Epilepsy Transition Clinic in the Academic Centre for Epileptology Kempenhaeghe. What makes this clinic so unique is the collaboration between neurologists, psychologists, social workers and educators. These methods appear to make significant long- and short-term contributions to improving the medical and social functioning of adolescents and young adults with epilepsy.

Additional risk factors for poor psychosocial results in the long term include low intelligence, parenting style, family support and experiencing persistent attacks that require medical treatment. Furthermore, young adults who fail to transition properly feel lonelier than those who can function independently.