Applicability of Compensatory Cognitive Training in Epilepsy to Low Resource and Literacy Settings: A Focused Review

Neurol India. 2021 May-Jun;69(3):717-723. doi: 10.4103/0028-3886.319233.

Abstract

Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurological disorders, accounting for over 13 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Nearly 80% of people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries (WHO, 2019). Rehabilitation of cognitive impairments through compensatory training in such patients encompasses a wide range of techniques. However, interventional studies exploring their efficacy remain scarce despite being recommended in various reviews. Further, cultural contexts and other related factors have often been overlooked. We aimed to appraise the existing evidence on internal and external compensatory strategies in patients with epilepsy and identify the gaps and pitfalls in the existing literature for applicability to low resource and literacy settings from a neuropsychological perspective.

Keywords: Cognition; cognitive retraining; compensation; epilepsy; external aids; health; health care; internal aids; neuropsychological rehabilitation; neuropsychology.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cognition
  • Cognition Disorders*
  • Epilepsy* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Literacy
  • Neuropsychological Tests