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The neurology–psychiatry interface in epilepsy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 December 2018

Valerie Murphy ,
Brian Hallahan ,
Henry O’ Connell ,
Brenda Wright ,
Brendan D Kelly Open the ORCID record for Brendan D Kelly [Opens in a new window] ,
Gautam Gulati  and
Rohit Shankar
Valerie Murphy*
Affiliation:
Clinical Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University College, Cork, Ireland
Brian Hallahan
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
Henry O’ Connell
Affiliation:
Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Brenda Wright
Affiliation:
Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Central Mental Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Brendan D Kelly
Affiliation:
Professor of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Gautam Gulati
Affiliation:
Adjunct Clinical Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
Rohit Shankar
Affiliation:
Honorary Associate Clinical Professor, Exeter Medical School, Exeter, Consultant Neuropsychiatrist Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
*
*Address for correspondence: Valerie Murphy PhD, University College, Cork, Ireland. (Email: valeriee.murphy@hse.ie)
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Abstract

Epilepsy and mental illness have a bidirectional association. Psychiatrists are likely to encounter epilepsy as comorbidity. Seizures may present as mental illness. Equally, the management of psychiatric conditions has the potential to destabilise epilepsy. There is a need for structured epilepsy awareness and training amongst psychiatrists. This paper outlines key considerations around diagnosis, treatment and risk while suggesting practical recommendations.

Keywords

Epilepsyintellectual disabilitymental healthpsychiatryseizure

Information

Type
Perspective Piece
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 38 , Issue 1: Themed Issue: Physical Health in Mental Illness , March 2021 , pp. 9 - 15
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2018

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