Comorbidities and Social Complications of Epilepsy and Seizures: The Cognitive, Psychological and Psychosocial Impact of Epilepsy

Designed to be a practical reference guide, chapters succinctly provide a current overview of the relevant area while concise enough to be read in a single sitting. All of the major co-morbidities of epilepsy are reviewed, as well as the impact of anti-epileptic medications and other therapies. In addition, a specific chapter about older patients with epilepsy is also included.

This book supplies the reader with a deeper understanding of the relevant co-morbidities in epilepsy as well as providing insights into strategies to help in the holistic treatment of patients. While primarily UK-focused it will also be of interest to medical/nursing practitioners around the globe, including in the developing world, and to epilepsy charities and interested lay- readers/patients.

Arjune Sen, Ian Brown

Arjune is a Consultant Epileptologist, Senior Fellow in Epileptology and Head of the Oxford Epilepsy Research Group. He has a very busy epilepsy practice and has pioneered novel clinical pathways, including the development of specialist multidisciplinary clinics such as ’Epilepsy and learning disability’ and ’Epilepsy and employment’.

At a research level, Arjune has a broad portfolio of studies including autoimmune epilepsy and epilepsy genomics. His personal work is wholly multidisciplinary and integrates across three main areas - intersection of epilepsy and dementia; developing novel technologies to close diagnostic and treatment gaps; and implementation of culturally specific tools at scale. This applies as much in underprivileged settings as in the UK.

Arjune is very interested in guideline development to ensure optimal care is attained worldwide. He served as Topic Advisor to the NICE Epilepsy Guidelines, 2022; has been appointed to the ILAE Standards and Best Practices Council.

Professor Brown is registered specialist in Occupational Health Medicine and Toxicology and has undertaken clinical and advisory work on the comorbidities of epilepsy for more than 30 years. He is particularly interested in the interaction between epilepsy, work, study, memory, and cognition. Professor Brown has also undertaken research into the societal impacts of chronic pain and has accepted a regulatory role as a Responsible Officer for a Ministry of Defence medical service. His interests have now broadened to embrace the relationships between diet, health and neurological disorders and he will be working with the University of Reading and Oxford on dietary aspects of epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease, especially the role of ketogenesis and neuroinflammation.