Resources

Integrated Mental Health Care Pathways

The mission of the Integrated Mental Health Care Pathways Task Force is to move the global epilepsy field forward in addressing mental health via integrated care models. Its vision is to reach a time when integrated mental health care is broadly considered a routine element in standard epilepsy care.

Working Definition on Integrated Mental Health Care in Epilepsy: Any attempt to fully or partially blend mental health services with seizure care services. This blending can occur within inpatient or ambulatory clinical settings. By treating both the mental and physical needs of people with seizures, we will better meet the aim of improved patient outcomes and satisfaction by addressing common, disabling and costly mental and behavioral health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, behavioral disturbances, etc.).

Publications:

Integrated care for mental health in epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-synthesis by the International League Against Epilepsy Integrated Mental Health Care Pathways Task Force
Gandy M, Wu W, Woldhuis T, Bennett SD, Baslet G, Araujo-Filho G, et al. Epilepsia. First published: 27 January 2025. DOI: 10.1111/epi.18252

Integrated psychological care services within seizure settings: Key components and implementation factors among example services in four ILAE regions: A report by the ILAE Psychiatry Commission
Gandy M, Michaelis R, Acraman J, Donald KA, Fitzpatrick M, LaFrance WC Jr., et al. Epilepsia. First published: 25 May 2023. DOI: 10.1111/epi.17647

Managing depression and anxiety in people with epilepsy: A survey of epilepsy health professionals by the ILAE Psychology Task Force
Gandy M, Modi AC, Wagner JL, et al. Epilepsia Open. First published: 03 December 2020. DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12455

Resources:

• American Epilepsy Society (AES) Mental Health Resources for clinicians
• Integrated Psychological Care Services: Tips from established service leaders, March 2024 webinar
• Ongoing Systematic Review: Integrated care for mental and behavioural health in epilepsy. A systematic review by the ILAE Integrated Mental Health Care Pathways Task Force 
  Milena Gandy, Heidi Munger Clary, Wendy Wu, Thomas Woldhuis. PROSPERO 2023 CRD42023433618 Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023433618

Psychoeducation

Coming soon...

Functional / Dissociative Seizures 

Find resources on epilepsy here that are designed for people with functional neurological disorder and functional / dissociative seizures.

Paediatric Psychiatric Issues

The Paediatric Psychiatric Issues Task Force (TF), established in 2018, is a liaison between the Pediatrics and the Psychiatry Commissions of the ILAE. The TF involved experts from all ILAE world regions. Recognizing the shortage of mental health/psychiatric care, the ILAE entrusted the TF with developing clear, objective, and clinically meaningful recommendations for the diagnosis of disorders, identification of symptoms, and treatment of psychiatric and mental health disorders in children with epilepsy.

Publications:

Scoping review and expert-based consensus recommendations for assessment and management of psychogenic non-epileptic (functional) seizures (PNES) in children: A report from the Pediatric Psychiatric Issues Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy
Reilly C, Jette N, Johnson EC, Kariuki SM, Meredith F, Wirrell E, et al. Epilepsia. First published: 07 October 2023. DOI: 10.1111/epi.17768

Resources:

• Autism in Children with Epilepsy, July 2023 webinar
• The ILAE Syndrome Classification as a Roadmap for Epilepsy-associated Comorbidities, October 2023 webinar
• ILAE Sharp Waves Podcast: Autism and epilepsy: Dr. Colin Reilly and Dr. Stéphane Auvin, Mazur J. Epigraph 2023; 25(4): 56-64.
  

Intellectual Disabilities

The ILAE Intellectual Disability Task Force collaborated with the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry on a webinar series in 2023. 

Find other resources on epilepsy here that are designed for people with intellectual disability. These are available in a number of languages.

If you have developed resources on epilepsy for people with intellectual disability and would like to share a link on the resources page, please contact Christine Linehan.

Published Reports

Consensus-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents with epilepsy: A report from the Psychiatric Pediatric Issues Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy, Epilepsia (2024)

Scoping review and expert-based consensus recommendations for assessment and management of psychogenic non-epileptic (functional) seizures (PNES) in children: A report from the Pediatric Psychiatric Issues Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy, Epilepsia (2023)

Integrated psychological care services within seizure settings: Key components and implementation factors among example services in four ILAE regions: A report by the ILAE Psychiatry Commission, Epilepsia (2023)

Use of suggestive seizure manipulation methods in the investigation of patients with possible psychogenic nonepileptic seizures—An international ILAE survey, Epilepsia Open (2021)

Driving a motor vehicle and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: ILAE Report by the Task Force on Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures, Epilepsia Open (2020)