Mental health intervention for a child with developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy with spike-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS)

Children with Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies experience neurodevelopmental problems from both the epileptic activity and the underlying cause of the condition. Children with Developmental and/or Epileptic Encephalopathy with spike-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS) experience cogniti...

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Main Authors: C. Reilly, Roz Shafran, Helen Cross, Millie Wagstaff, Bhavna Sidhpara, J. Idowu, C. Meades, S.D. Bennett
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Epilepsy & Behavior Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589986425000401
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author C. Reilly
Roz Shafran
Helen Cross
Millie Wagstaff
Bhavna Sidhpara
J. Idowu
C. Meades
S.D. Bennett
author_facet C. Reilly
Roz Shafran
Helen Cross
Millie Wagstaff
Bhavna Sidhpara
J. Idowu
C. Meades
S.D. Bennett
author_sort C. Reilly
collection DOAJ
description Children with Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies experience neurodevelopmental problems from both the epileptic activity and the underlying cause of the condition. Children with Developmental and/or Epileptic Encephalopathy with spike-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS) experience cognitive and behavioral regression/stagnation that occurs in tandem with marked spike-wave activation in sleep (SWAS). Children with epilepsy often have co-occurring mental health problems that are often not recognized or supported. There is increasing evidence these co-occurring mental health problems can be treated with psychological interventions. The mental health and cognitive difficulties that accompany SWAS have a significant impact on child and family quality of life. There is limited data on the treatment of mental health difficulties for children with D/EE-SWAS. We describe the use of the Mental Health Intervention in Children with Epilepsy (MICE) in a child with D/EE-SWAS who had experienced significant cognitive regression and behavioral difficulties. The intervention was delivered with the child’s parents via video and consisted of 19 sessions delivered by an assistant psychologist. The focus of the intervention was reducing behaviours of concern via evidence-based behavioural parenting strategies. The intervention resulted in clear progress towards parental chosen goals (Goal Based Outcomes) and a reduction of symptoms on validated measures of behavior. Qualitative feedback via parental interview was that the intervention was very useful, giving the parents everyday strategies that they could effectively employ with the child in the home environment. This case demonstrates that a mental health intervention based on behavioural parenting strategies can be useful for children with D/EE-SWAS.
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spelling doaj-art-45f7970d89144d3aa16fd3a9b3ce4ff32025-08-20T01:52:23ZengElsevierEpilepsy & Behavior Reports2589-98642025-09-013110078010.1016/j.ebr.2025.100780Mental health intervention for a child with developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy with spike-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS)C. Reilly0Roz Shafran1Helen Cross2Millie Wagstaff3Bhavna Sidhpara4J. Idowu5C. Meades6S.D. Bennett7Research Department, Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6PW, UK; Corresponding author.UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH), 30 Guilford Street London WC1N 1EH UKResearch Department, Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6PW, UK; UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH), 30 Guilford Street London WC1N 1EH UK; Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JH, UKUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH), 30 Guilford Street London WC1N 1EH UKResearch Department, Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6PW, UKResearch Department, Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6PW, UKResearch Department, Young Epilepsy, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6PW, UKUCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (ICH), 30 Guilford Street London WC1N 1EH UK; Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UKChildren with Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies experience neurodevelopmental problems from both the epileptic activity and the underlying cause of the condition. Children with Developmental and/or Epileptic Encephalopathy with spike-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS) experience cognitive and behavioral regression/stagnation that occurs in tandem with marked spike-wave activation in sleep (SWAS). Children with epilepsy often have co-occurring mental health problems that are often not recognized or supported. There is increasing evidence these co-occurring mental health problems can be treated with psychological interventions. The mental health and cognitive difficulties that accompany SWAS have a significant impact on child and family quality of life. There is limited data on the treatment of mental health difficulties for children with D/EE-SWAS. We describe the use of the Mental Health Intervention in Children with Epilepsy (MICE) in a child with D/EE-SWAS who had experienced significant cognitive regression and behavioral difficulties. The intervention was delivered with the child’s parents via video and consisted of 19 sessions delivered by an assistant psychologist. The focus of the intervention was reducing behaviours of concern via evidence-based behavioural parenting strategies. The intervention resulted in clear progress towards parental chosen goals (Goal Based Outcomes) and a reduction of symptoms on validated measures of behavior. Qualitative feedback via parental interview was that the intervention was very useful, giving the parents everyday strategies that they could effectively employ with the child in the home environment. This case demonstrates that a mental health intervention based on behavioural parenting strategies can be useful for children with D/EE-SWAS.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589986425000401EpilpesyMental healthDevelopmental and epileptic encephalopathy
spellingShingle C. Reilly
Roz Shafran
Helen Cross
Millie Wagstaff
Bhavna Sidhpara
J. Idowu
C. Meades
S.D. Bennett
Mental health intervention for a child with developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy with spike-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS)
Epilepsy & Behavior Reports
Epilpesy
Mental health
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy
title Mental health intervention for a child with developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy with spike-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS)
title_full Mental health intervention for a child with developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy with spike-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS)
title_fullStr Mental health intervention for a child with developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy with spike-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS)
title_full_unstemmed Mental health intervention for a child with developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy with spike-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS)
title_short Mental health intervention for a child with developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy with spike-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS)
title_sort mental health intervention for a child with developmental and or epileptic encephalopathy with spike wave activation in sleep d ee swas
topic Epilpesy
Mental health
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589986425000401
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