Individuals with complex partial epilepsy" are managed most often by medical neurologists whose primary focus is the treatment of seizures with anticonvulsant medication.  Paradoxically, often these medications produce interference with thinking and memory, and drowsiness.  Yet complex-partial seizures are often poorly controlled by these medications.  Glaser et al. (1) described a high incidence of interictal psychological abnormalities in patients with complex-partial seizures, characterized by fluidity of thought process, loss of trains of association, word finding difficulties, and fluctuations in the accuracy of perceptions.  It is no wonder that these individuals experience difficulties in psychosocial functioning.

The intent of this clinical pilot project was to develop a behavioral therapy approach to the seizural and non-seizural problems of a group of individuals with complex-partial epilepsy.  A counseling and EEG-biofeedback model was developed to reach skills that could be used to reduce seizure frequency and improve neuropsycho-logical and emotional functioning.  Careful attention was paid to not only the frequency of seizures but also the degree to which interictal phenomena such as memory disturbance, dissociations and difficulty in organizing thoughts interfered with the individual's daily life.