Social Work Intervention in Adult Epilepsy Out-patient Clinic
Abstract number :
3.078
Submission category :
11. Behavior/Neuropsychology/Language / 11A. Adult
Year :
2025
Submission ID :
217
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/8/2025 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Authors :
Presenting Author: Elizabeth Gedeon, LISW-S – Cleveland Clinic
Vineet Punia, MD – Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
Rationale:
Epilepsy exerts a substantial impact on the psychological and social dimensions of patients’ lives. Individuals with epilepsy are at elevated risk for co-occurring mental health conditions and cognitive impairments, and frequently face social stigma, barriers in education and employment, and challenges in interpersonal relationships. These factors collectively influence both quality of life and adherence to medical care.
Despite recognition of these psychosocial concerns, the role of social work in addressing them within epilepsy care remains underexplored. To bridge this gap, the Cleveland Clinic has integrated a dedicated social work position into its adult outpatient epilepsy clinic, aimed at identifying and mitigating barriers to care. This preliminary review examines the underlying reasons for social work referrals and explores common themes among patients requiring enhanced psychosocial support.
Methods:
A review was conducted of outpatient social work consultations received during the initial 15 weeks following the implementation of a dedicated epilepsy social work consult order. During this period, 69 consults were submitted. Each patient’s chart was systematically examined to identify the reason for consultation, interventions provided, and the number of social work contacts required. Additionally, demographic and clinical variables including age, gender, geographic location, epilepsy classification, presence of developmental delay, and level of family support were analyzed for each patient. Results:
A total of 68 patients were included, average age of 42 ±16, with majority of patients having focal epilepsy (56%). Evaluation of initial consults revealed that the most frequent reason for social work involvement was mental health support, accounting for 27 consults. Of these, 21 patients were successfully connected to mental health resources or providers, while outreach efforts for the remaining patients involved three or more attempts without response. The second most common reason, comprising 21 consults, involved linkage to community and financial resources, including vocational rehabilitation, legal aid, social engagement programs, medication assistance, and food pantry access. Referrals were also made to the Area Agency on Aging for supportive living services and to the local Board of Developmental Disabilities. Additional consultations addressed new diagnoses of epilepsy (2 consults) and non-epileptic seizures (7 consults). The remainder of consults consisted of need for assistance with legal guardianship or advance directives, concerns of abuse, and lack of social support.Conclusions:
The integration of a dedicated social work role within the adult outpatient epilepsy clinic has proven essential in addressing the complex psychosocial needs of patients with epilepsy. Early findings highlight mental health support and connection to community resources as primary areas of intervention. This preliminary review underscores the value of social work in mitigating barriers to care and enhancing comprehensive epilepsy management. Continued evaluation will be critical to optimizing social work involvement and improving patient outcomes. Funding: None.
Behavior