Epilepsy and violence: case series concerning physical trauma in children of persons with epilepsy

Helena Gauffin1,2 Anne-Marie Landtblom1–4 1Department of Neurology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; 2Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; 3Neurology Unit, Department of Medical Specialist,...

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Autores principales:	Gauffin H, Landtblom AM
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Dove Medical Press 2014
Materias:	Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry RC321-571 Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system RC346-429
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/3769ab2efb604da29b5da8d38cd5050a
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:3769ab2efb604da29b5da8d38cd5050a2021-12-02T06:49:09ZEpilepsy and violence: case series concerning physical trauma in children of persons with epilepsy1178-2021https://doaj.org/article/3769ab2efb604da29b5da8d38cd5050a2014-11-01T00:00:00Zhttp://www.dovepress.com/epilepsy-and-violence-case-series-concerning-physical-trauma-in-childr-peer-reviewed-article-NDThttps://doaj.org/toc/1178-2021 Helena Gauffin1,2 Anne-Marie Landtblom1–4 1Department of Neurology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; 2Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; 3Neurology Unit, Department of Medical Specialist, General Hospital, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, IMM, County Council, Linköping University, Motala, Sweden; 4Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden Abstract: Historically, epilepsy has been associated with violence, but more recent studies have emphasized genetic and psychosocial factors as more important. The case series presented here aim to highlight the difficult situation the affected children are in. We report on three cases when children have been traumatized and, in one case, even been killed by their parent who was diagnosed with epilepsy. In the first case, we describe a woman with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy who was sentenced to forensic psychiatry care for killing her child. She lived under difficult psychosocial circumstances and a suicide attempt contributed to what happened. The second case describes a man with post-traumatic seizures who was sentenced for child abuse. Ictal or postictal violence was considered in these two cases but a causal link between the violence and epilepsy has not been established. In the third case, we describe a woman with focal epilepsy and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNESs). Her child was hurt and frightened in relation to violent seizures, which were regarded as PNESs. This case series demonstrates that children of parents with epilepsy can be in a vulnerable situation. No causality has been established between the seizures and these events, so consequently other factors such as psychosocial stress, low cognitive function, and a suicide attempt must also be considered as important. When a child is hurt by a parent with epilepsy the patient must be closely examined to determine the role of the seizures. Children can also be affected by PNESs. It is essential to notice especially those children of parents with epilepsy who live under difficult psychosocial circumstances and offer extra support when necessary. Keywords: homicide, epilepsy, child abuse, children, psychosocial, crime, law Gauffin HLandtblom AMDove Medical PressarticleNeurosciences. Biological psychiatry. NeuropsychiatryRC321-571Neurology. Diseases of the nervous systemRC346-429ENNeuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, Vol 2014, Iss default, Pp 2183-2189 (2014)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry RC321-571 Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system RC346-429
spellingShingle	Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry RC321-571 Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system RC346-429 Gauffin H Landtblom AM Epilepsy and violence: case series concerning physical trauma in children of persons with epilepsy
description	Helena Gauffin1,2 Anne-Marie Landtblom1–4 1Department of Neurology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; 2Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; 3Neurology Unit, Department of Medical Specialist, General Hospital, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, IMM, County Council, Linköping University, Motala, Sweden; 4Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden Abstract: Historically, epilepsy has been associated with violence, but more recent studies have emphasized genetic and psychosocial factors as more important. The case series presented here aim to highlight the difficult situation the affected children are in. We report on three cases when children have been traumatized and, in one case, even been killed by their parent who was diagnosed with epilepsy. In the first case, we describe a woman with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy who was sentenced to forensic psychiatry care for killing her child. She lived under difficult psychosocial circumstances and a suicide attempt contributed to what happened. The second case describes a man with post-traumatic seizures who was sentenced for child abuse. Ictal or postictal violence was considered in these two cases but a causal link between the violence and epilepsy has not been established. In the third case, we describe a woman with focal epilepsy and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNESs). Her child was hurt and frightened in relation to violent seizures, which were regarded as PNESs. This case series demonstrates that children of parents with epilepsy can be in a vulnerable situation. No causality has been established between the seizures and these events, so consequently other factors such as psychosocial stress, low cognitive function, and a suicide attempt must also be considered as important. When a child is hurt by a parent with epilepsy the patient must be closely examined to determine the role of the seizures. Children can also be affected by PNESs. It is essential to notice especially those children of parents with epilepsy who live under difficult psychosocial circumstances and offer extra support when necessary. Keywords: homicide, epilepsy, child abuse, children, psychosocial, crime, law
format	article
author	Gauffin H Landtblom AM
author_facet	Gauffin H Landtblom AM
author_sort	Gauffin H
title	Epilepsy and violence: case series concerning physical trauma in children of persons with epilepsy
title_short	Epilepsy and violence: case series concerning physical trauma in children of persons with epilepsy
title_full	Epilepsy and violence: case series concerning physical trauma in children of persons with epilepsy
title_fullStr	Epilepsy and violence: case series concerning physical trauma in children of persons with epilepsy
title_full_unstemmed	Epilepsy and violence: case series concerning physical trauma in children of persons with epilepsy
title_sort	epilepsy and violence: case series concerning physical trauma in children of persons with epilepsy
publisher	Dove Medical Press
publishDate	2014
url	https://doaj.org/article/3769ab2efb604da29b5da8d38cd5050a
work_keys_str_mv	AT gauffinh epilepsyandviolencecaseseriesconcerningphysicaltraumainchildrenofpersonswithepilepsy AT landtblomam epilepsyandviolencecaseseriesconcerningphysicaltraumainchildrenofpersonswithepilepsy
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Epilepsy and violence: case series concerning physical trauma in children of persons with epilepsy

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