Abstract
Anxiety is a common comorbidity in children with epilepsy, though often overlooked
and undertreated. Fear and worry are common reactions of children with epilepsy and
their parents. Risk factors are multiple and include demographical, epilepsy-related,
genetic, and family variables. Anxiety negatively affects health-related quality of
life (QOL) and may contribute to poor seizure control. Appropriate treatment of anxiety
in children with epilepsy should follow practice guidelines developed for treatment
of anxiety in children without epilepsy and consist of education, counseling, and
potentially psychopharmacology.
Keywords
childhood epilepsy - anxiety disorders - emotional comorbidity in epilepsy
