ABSTRACT
The global burden of neurologic disease is inequitably distributed, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the greatest burden of incidence, mortality, and disability for many neurologic disorders. Despite the large burden of neurologic disease, there are often few or no neurologists in resource-limited settings. In such settings with few or no neurologists, patients with neurologic conditions commonly present to mental health providers who usually have limited training in neurology. This chapter discusses models for the integration of basic neurology training for mental health providers in resource-limited settings as an essential tool for closing this treatment gap and improving healthcare delivery. The authors use epilepsy as an example condition in order to explore some of the challenges for patients and providers in distinguishing neurologic from psychiatric conditions and to highlight successful programs that have offered models for the integration of neurology and mental health in under-resourced settings. This chapter also describes the authors’ experiences developing a community-based epilepsy program in rural Haiti.
