Epilepsy and the Family: A New Guide [Hardcover]

Richard Lechtenberg M.D. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0674258975 | ISBN-13: 978-0674258976 | Publication Date: July 29, 1999 | Edition: 2

Epilepsy and the Family: A New Guide updates Richard Lechtenberg's classic handbook for people with seizure disorders and those closest to them. It offers 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 among teenagers, personality changes and suicide. This new guide addresses the personal questions that adults with epilepsy may be reluctant to ask their physician, and it offers chapters tailored to the special stresses of spouses, parents, and siblings who, like the patient, must live with a seizure disorder.

As many as two and a half million Americans have epilepsy. Thirty percent of them are children under the age of 18. And there are 125,000 newly diagnosed cases each year. A practicing neurologist with decades of clinical experience, Lechtenberg clearly and concisely explains the biology behind this complex and relatively widespread class of diseases. He discusses the various medical conditions that can cause seizures in children and adults and points out that the cause of many seizure disorders is never discovered. Patients and those who care about them will find authoritative but accessible advice on various medications and surgical approaches and the information they need to ask informed questions of their doctors. For the medical professional, this book offers important information on how to better treat the patient with epilepsy by recognizing the needs of the entire family.

This revised edition addresses:

New drugs and surgical techniques that have been developed in the past 15 years

Pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatment strategies

New clinical data on drug combinations and side effects

Up-to-date statistics for mortality, reproduction, violent behavior, divorce, and suicide

Editorial Reviews

From 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
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Although he does a stellar job of explaining what a seizure disorder is and how it is diagnosed and treated, Lechtenberg, a professor of neurology, goes one step further by exploring the impact it has on the entire family. Spouses might be interested in reading about marriage, childbearing and sexual activity. Children will find answers to their questions about living with an epileptic parent. Siblings will find pertinent information on personality changes, fear and resentment. All will find useful answers to personal questions they would probably hesitate to ask their physician. (We )

Good information on the emotional side of living with a child, sibling or spouse with this unpredictable condition. (Deborah Wormser Dallas Morning News )

Despite striking recent advances in the treatment of epilepsy, the disease still leaves many of its sufferers and their families pessimistic and fearful. Lechtenberg seeks to lessen those feelings with a detailed accounting of epilepsy's cause, many and various types, and possible treatments and controls, and by suggesting practical coping methods. The text is easy to read, and frequent tables summarize important material...Lechtenberg demolishes several myths; for example, pointing out that thinking that one can carry out a burglary or murder during a seizure is 'ludicrous.' He also draws attention to the misuse of confidential information by employers, insurers, governmental agencies, and physicians. This clear and informative book speaks to anyone who is in any way involved with epilepsy. (William Beatty Booklist )

Lechtenberg 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 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. (James Swanton Library Journal )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Harvard University Press; 2 edition (July 29, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0674258975
• ISBN-13: 978-0674258976
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,740,653 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Gives readers only the worse case scenario, negative traits are spoken of- definately kills hope., June 14, 2011

By 

Mary Ady Fontaine "Mary Ady Fontaine" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Epilepsy and the Family: A New Guide (Paperback)

I checked this book out at the library, as a person with Epilepsy- controlled by medication, because the title grabbed me: Epilepsy and the Family. When I opened it I was surprised to see the chapters titles literally cover Marital Problems, Sexual Activity, Personality Changes and Violence- as actual chapter titles. As if people with Epilepsy all are prone to the following three sexual dysfuntions: Transvestitism, Fetishism & Exhibitionism. There is actually a chart describing those as sexual dysfunctions described in people with Epilepsy. I'm not sure how the Author gets from A to B with his thoughts.

The books main focus in each and every chapter was how a person with Epilepsy would effect the lives of their spouses, siblings, parents, as well as parents of someone with Epilepsy- ALL relationships were viewed in only a very negative way. If If I had no prior knowledge of Epilepsy and had bought this book to learn of its effects on a person and their family and friends, I would cry in horror and have a sense there was no hope and becuase of Epilepsy they would live a violent, angry, bitter life trying to hide their "defect" from co-workers and basically everyone. The front flap literally says, "it offers chapters tailored to the special stresses of..." (everyone in their life.)

It gave no hope. It gave a very negative view of how bad reality could become, and how someone with Epilepsy could make it become at that. I feel bad that the Author views his patients in such a dark light.

I, as a person having Epilepsy am sad this book is in print- as this in no way shape or form was how my Family I was raised in struggled, or how my family I am in with my husband and daughter deal with. I am a regular person, with an electrical glitch. I do not view Epilepsy as defining me, as the Author implies.

If you are interested in worse case scenarios that could occur if any feeling is taken to a fanatical level there are a million examples of that. Other than the tainted, very negative view of a person living life with Epilepsy provided by the Author, there is nothing to be gained from this book: the information as far as Epilepsy is outdated.

I am stunned the Harvard University Press published such an opinionated book as something/someone that had any authority speaking about Epilepsy. At some point someone needs to call out Professors of Neurology or anyone who is strengthening the stigma asssociated with their specialty. Or teaching people such a negative approach towards patients with the disorder, as the patient and the person with Epilepsy will be the one to suffer from the negative views of the Author, all the readers of this book will be left with.