Epilepsy And The Family by Richard M.D. Lechtenberg

Vijaya K. Patil

This is a comprehensive look at the epilepsy and the challenges confronting patients and their families. The author helps them learn more about the disease and strike a balance between the interests and needs of the patients and their families. This is an update of an earlier edition that was published in 1984. The purpose is to help people with seizures and their families learn more about the disease and offer coping strategies for the wide range of practical and emotional challenges that epilepsy can introduce into the family: marital and sexual difficulties, concerns about pregnancy and inheritance, drug compliance and abuse, personality changes, and other stressful situations in patients' lives. These are worthy objectives and the author's objectives are met. According to the author, this book is intended for anyone affected, directly or indirectly, by epilepsy. I, however, feel that this book is helpful not only for the families experiencing epilepsy but also for the healthcare professionals who come in contact with patients with epilepsy. The table of contents is adequate, and the author deals with almost all important issues of epilepsy including current treatment. Overall, with its good print, easy language well supported by diagrams, tables, information about resources and additional reading, this book is bound to make a favorable impression on its readers. This is an invaluable guide for anyone affected with epilepsy, directly or indirectly. The author provides good insight into the disease process and also discusses available treatment in a lucid manner. The case histories, well illustrated simple diagrams, and the tables are the highlights of this book.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Vijaya Patil, MD(University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine)
Description:This is a comprehensive look at the epilepsy and the challenges confronting patients and their families. The author helps them learn more about the disease and strike a balance between the interests and needs of the patients and their families. This is an update of an earlier edition that was published in 1984.
Purpose:The purpose is to help people with seizures and their families learn more about the disease and offer coping strategies for the wide range of practical and emotional challenges that epilepsy can introduce into the family: marital and sexual difficulties, concerns about pregnancy and inheritance, drug compliance and abuse, personality changes, and other stressful situations in patients' lives. These are worthy objectives and the author's objectives are met.
Audience:According to the author, this book is intended for anyone affected, directly or indirectly, by epilepsy. I, however, feel that this book is helpful not only for the families experiencing epilepsy but also for the healthcare professionals who come in contact with patients with epilepsy.
Features:The table of contents is adequate, and the author deals with almost all important issues of epilepsy including current treatment. Overall, with its good print, easy language well supported by diagrams, tables, information about resources and additional reading, this book is bound to make a favorable impression on its readers.
Assessment:This is an invaluable guide for anyone affected with epilepsy, directly or indirectly. The author providesgood insight into the disease process and also discusses available treatment in a lucid manner. The case histories, well illustrated simple diagrams, and the tables are the highlights of this book.

Library Journal

Here, Lechtenberg (neurology, Univ. of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey) updates his 1984 classic on epilepsy, providing new information on the drugs, therapies, and surgical techniques that have been developed in the past 15 years. Personal and family problems caused by epilepsy vary from negligible to devastating, and Lechtenberg addresses coping strategies for the wide range of practical and emotional challenges that seizure disorders can introduce into the lives of patients and their families. Lechtenberg explains the latest pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical treatments and the new clinical data on drug combinations and their side effects. Up-to-date statistics for mortality, reproduction, violent behavior, divorce, and suicide are also covered. This authoritative book answers the questions that epileptics and their families may not think to ask their doctors as well as those they may have been too embarrassed or afraid to bring up. For all consumer health collections.James Swanton, Harlem Hosp. Lib., New York

Booknews

In this updated guide, Lechtenberg (neurology, U. of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey) addresses the personal questions that patients with epilepsy may hesitate to ask their doctors (e.g. about sexuality, depression); treatment options, and other concerns of those closest to the some 2.5 million Americans with this seizure disorder. Readings are the only resources listed. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Rating

3 Stars from Doody