FEAR OF SEIZURES - AN INVESTIGATION AND TREATMENT

Despite the wealth of epidemiological evidence showing the comorbidity of epilepsy with various forms of psychopathology, there has been lit tle systematic investigation of its relationship with affective disord ers. This study aims to explore the phenomenon of seizure fear. Survey data have suggested that patients commonly fear death and/or brain da mage as a result of their seizures, but documented cases of seizure ph obia are rare and infrequently address issues of treatment. The study describes the exploration and successful cognitive behavioural treatme nt of a case of seizure phobia in a 26 year old woman with a 9 year hi story of epilepsy following a subarachnoid haemorrhage. The findings r epresent an important development in the much-neglected study of seizu re fear. The case highlights some of the factors which may contribute to the genesis and maintenance of epilepsy-related psychopathologies a nd consequently has important implications for theoretical modelling i n this area. Furthermore, it provides encouraging evidence to support the use of cognitive-behavioural techniques in treatment of these diso rders.