title: Psychosocial assessment methods in childhood epilepsy: focus on sub-Saharan Africa.
abstract: The scale of evidence tilts towards the contention that epileptic children as a group are at a disadvantage regarding intellectual and emotional development and have higher rates of behavioural abnormalities than their non-epileptic peers. Differentiating factors logically point to the problem areas which should be enquired into in a comprehensive assessment of a child with epilepsy and should facilitate formulation of viable intervention stratagems. A critical review of the literature reveals that, of five major assessment methods, the use of a standardised and valid questionnaire is likely to yield the most reliable clinical information. However, a complete assessment package should include drug use monitoring, evaluation of cultural milieu and family psychodynamics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Famuyiwa
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ogunmekan
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*