Type of Project: Funded project Joint project Study
Need for Rehabilitation after surgery in epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological illnesses. The epileptic patient's quality of life includes psychological deficits, behavioural disorders, psychiatric complications and social problems. The surgical goal in epilepsy treatment aims to free the patient of seizures. Successful surgeries improve the patient's life situation and social integration because of eliminated restrictions. It is generally known that psychological problems persist in up to 50% of cases. The problems are self-rated as the most serious limitation in the patient's life. As a result, the current need for specific assistance is undisputed. However, because detailed studies investigating these issues are lacking, it is not known which treatment options are necessary. Questions: 1) Recognise and consider the specific complex problems of the affected patients. 2) Characteristics which objectively describe patients needing post-operative rehabilitation. 3) Which physical, emotional, cognitive or social factors identify patients requesting rehabilitation versus those who do not want it? 4) Ask by catamnestic questioning, whether the current assessment of demand and need for post-operative rehabilitation is correct? Study design: The investigation consists of a survey administered at three time points. Registration of need and demand for rehabilitation following epilepsy surgery will be conducted at the Freiburg-Kork center for epilepsy in Germany. Survey administered time points are fixed at: - T0 = pre-operation - T1 = 1 week post-operative - T2 = 3 month follow-up Implications for clinical practice: The project is the first study to collect data that evaluates the need and demand for post-operative epilepsy rehabilitation. We expect to obtain predictors that define which patients will need post-operative rehabilitation. The data will provide indicators that can help to outline and develop post-operative rehabilitation treatment recommendations. Additionally, concepts for this specialised rehabilitation can be adapted to the functional health of these patients that correspond to the ICF-classification of the World Health Organisation.