The Intersection of Epilepsy and Psychiatric Disorders

60 minutes
Coming Soon (On Demand)
Access from anywhere (Online) and Access Anytime (On Demand)
Certificate of Completion

People living with epilepsy have a higher incidence of psychiatric disorders than the general population. Between 25 and 50% of people living with epilepsy will also be diagnosed with a psychiatric comorbidity, the most frequent of which include depression, anxiety and attention deficit disorders in adults and children, and less frequently personality disorders and psychosis in adults.

A better understanding of the intersection of epilepsy and psychiatric disorders will help to improve screening and identification and help providers incorporate appropriate treatment for these disorders.

Course Objectives:
Review the epidemiology of psychiatric comorbidities in people with epilepsy
Provide an insight on the bidirectional relationship between epilepsy and some of the
psychiatric disorders
Review the most important aspects of mood and anxiety disorders in epilepsy
Review the particular aspects of psychosis in epilepsy
Describe the temporal relation between psychiatric symptoms and seizures (pre-ictal,
ictal, post-ictal) and their impact in the lives of patients
Outline other causes of psychiatric symptoms in epilepsy
Review multidisciplinary management strategies
Review resources available through the Epilepsy Foundation
For technical support, please contact:
Online Course Support Team
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 800-332-1000
Business hours: 9am to 5pm EST
Monday to Friday (Excluding US holidays)

For additional information or questions about this training, please contact the Epilepsy Foundation Public Health and Education Team: [email protected]
Who Can Take The Course?

Behavioral Health Providers, including social workers, psychologists, nurse practitioners, psychiatry advanced practice providers and counselors.

How to Take The Course?

See our FAQs additional technical requirements.

Can’t find the answer to your question? 

Contact the Epilepsy Foundation’s Public Health and Education Department

Epilepsy Learning Portal Support Team:

  • E-mail: [email protected]
  • Phone: 800-332-1000
  • Business hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET
  • Monday to Friday (Excluding US holidays)
Are There Any Prerequisites To Take The Course?
There are no prerequisites to take the course.
What Materials Or Equipment Do I Need To Take The Online Course?
You need access to a computer or device (smart phone, tablet, etc.) with reliable, high-speed internet. The browser must support JavaScript.
How Long Does It Take To Complete The Course Online?
The time to complete the course varies by each user. The course includes one video and a post-assessment & evaluation. These lessons must be taken in order. The video lessons are approximately 50 minutes long. Each video module must be viewed in its entirety and post-assessment completed to successfully complete this training.
Are Continuing Education Units Available?

No

How Do I Get Credit For Taking The Course?
Upon completing the course, you must complete the online post-assessment and evaluation.
How Long Is The Post-Assessment?
The post-assessment consists of several multiple-choice questions.
Accommodation Requests
The Epilepsy Foundation is committed to providing resources that are accessible to people of all abilities. For questions about accessibility or to request accommodations in order to fully participate in this activity, please contact the Epilepsy Learning Portal Support Team Team: [email protected]. Requests should be made as soon as possible but at least two weeks prior to the scheduled meeting. You will be contacted by someone from our staff to discuss your specific needs.
Acknowledgments/Disclaimers

This program is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award under cooperative agreement number 1U58DP0026256-04-00, CFDA 93.850, funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Instructors must divulge at the beginning of the course any vested interest in any product, instrument, device or materials that may be used in the learning event.

Anti-Discrimination Statement

The Epilepsy Foundation is committed to providing equal opportunities for all persons and does not discriminate or retaliate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, citizenship or legal immigration status, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state and local laws (“protected status”). The following individuals have been designated to receive inquiries or complaints regarding the Foundation’s anti-discrimination policy:

Employees contact:
Name: Danielle Solomon
Title: Vice President, Human Resources
e-mail: [email protected]

Students, prospective students and third parties contact:
Name: LaQueisa Haynes-Smith
Title: Director, Training & Education
e-mail: [email protected]

Additional FAQ's

You can find additional FAQ's about this learning portal on the Frequently Asked Questions page

Our Mission

Improve the lives of people affected by epilepsy through education, advocacy, research, and connection.

Learn More About Us