New treatment could transform the mental health of children with epilepsy

A new psychological treatment for children with epilepsy, developed by a UCL-led team of scientists, has been shown to reduce mental health difficulties compared to standard care, a new study finds. Mental health problems such as worries, low mood and behaviour problems are more common in children and young people with brain conditions such as epilepsy, than in the general population - with up to 60% of those with epilepsy having associated mental health disorders and many having more than one mental health condition. These conditions can have a big impact on patients' quality of life and overall health. Currently, mental health problems in children and young people with epilepsy are often not identified because centres that treat epilepsy are usually separated from those that treat mental health difficulties. When mental health difficulties are identified, standard treatment for children who also have epilepsy is usually carried out by specialists, such as child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) or hospital-based paediatric psychology services. The treatment given usually involves treating each mental health condition (ie. anxiety, depression, behavioural issues) individually.