Help with non-medical questions

Epilepsy can raise non-medical questions for instance in the area of relationships, living, working, education and learning. For these types of questions you can also refer your patient to the epilepsy centre of Kempenhaeghe. When the occasion arises, you can take over the medical treatment of your patient after the supervision plan has been prepared.

Support in handling epilepsy and its consequences for daily life can be shaped in various forms. This may be having some meetings with a social worker, epilepsy nurse and/or psychologist of Kempenhaeghe, a training or contact with fellow sufferers, psychological counselling or a psychological treatment or a made-to-measure support programme or counselling programme.

The aim is to maintain, repair and/or improve the perceived control / coping skills of the patient (and his/her system) in such a manner that the cognitive, behavioural, social, educational or labour consequences of the epilepsy cause the patient (and his/her system) as little damage as possible. Learning to accept and cope with established function restrictions and/or established neuropsychological problems and with epilepsy as a chronic disorder are central in this.

Forms of psycho-social support

Chronic multidisciplinary treatment of epilepsy

For patients with a form of refractory epilepsy and related psycho-social and/or mental problems long-term multidisciplinary support can be advisable to learn the patient and his system to handle the entire range of problems. Depending on the nature and severity of the problems psychological, psychiatric or social counselling will be offered on an outpatient basis or in a clinic.

Further analysis of the epilepsy by means of clinical neurophysiological examination of imaging examination (MRI) may form part of the services. A neurologist, (neuro) psychologist, social worker and a nurse are involved in this process.

More information can be obtained from all neurologists.

Practical pedagogical home help (PPT)

A child with epilepsy and behavioural problems may burden the parents with such educational and contact questions that enforcement of the pedagogical capacity of the parents/the family system is indicated. Kempenhaeghe has a specialised multi-disciplinary team that by means of house calls and visits to the outpatients’ clinic en consultations given by telephone supports the parents with parenting skills and tailoring the care surrounding the child with care providers within and outside the epilepsy centre. This team consists of a neurologist, psychologist, practical pedagogical home help and an ambulatory supervisor from the educational centre affiliated with Kempenhaeghe.

The aim is for the parents to (again) raise their child independently. Further analysis of the child’s epilepsy may form part of the services.

More information can be obtained from A. van de Ven, healthcare psychologist.

Training ‘Epilepsy, housing and social integration’

For patients with epilepsy and a need for resocialisation Kempenhaeghe offers a trajectory to (more) independent living. From a living setting a multi-disciplinary team, consisting of a neurologist, psychologist, social worker and a nurse, guides the patient to more responsibility and independence. For this purpose, for instance, psycho-education, training in everyday living skills, learning to give structure to a day through daily activities, Goldstein training, network analysis and psycho-social counselling are used. The programme may take a few months to complete.

Further analysis of the epilepsy may form part of the services. The programme is not suitable for patients with such intellectual, emotional or behavioural limitations that they cannot take sufficient responsibility for a designated training target.

More information can be obtained from J. Vanhoutvin, system therapist, social worker.

Training ‘Epilepsy, work and schooling’

Kempenhaeghe can offer patients with stabilised (epileptic) seizures older than 16 a trajectory to a suitable form of work or daily activities. The aim is to extend the options and capacity of the patient to perform paid work or to guarantee and/or extend schooling or other structured daily activities. The services of the multi-disciplinary team, consisting of a neurologist, psychologist, social worker, labour consultant and/or remedial educationalist also include advising external authorities and employers.

The means employed include a work examination, social-welfare and/or personality examination, coaching trajectory, application training, empowerment training, trainee post, information about their own workplace, psycho-social counselling and possibly schooling. The services are in principle offered on an outpatient basis.

Further analysis of the epilepsy may form part of the trajectory. The programme is not suitable for patients with such intellectual, emotional or behavioural limitations that they cannot take sufficient responsibility for a designated training target.

More information can be obtained from J. Vanhoutvin, system therapist, social worker.

Epilepsy programme lasting several days (MEP)

This programme is for patients who as a result of the epilepsy and/or the medication experience serious impairments in daily life which they (and/or the partner) find hard to handle. During admission in the clinic for several days of the patient and the partner, in addition to a multi-disciplinary intake, various examinations, discussions and activities - relaxation exercise, movement agogics, information, exchange with fellow sufferers - will take place. The aim is to reach a treatment advice/approach in the area of the epilepsy and the related psycho-social problems. The programme involves a team consisting of a neurologist, social worker, psychologist and a physiotherapist.

The epilepsy programme which lasts for several days is offered several times a year at the Hans Berger Clinic location of Kempenhaeghe. Each time a maximum of five patients and their partners take part. The programme is not suitable for patients with a psychiatric disorder and/or a moderate to severe mental handicap.

More information can be obtained from G. Graveland, neurologist.