ABSTRACT
Treatment in psychiatry should always be considered under the headings physical, psychological and social. This may seem different to treatments in general medicine but the example of epilepsy will serve to illustrate the model.
Physical: anticonvulsants, and folic acid if necessary.
Psychological: supportive psychotherapy and reassurance about the diagnosis and its implications; advice about avoiding stressful situations and alcohol if these precipitate fits; appropriate treatment for depression or anxiety if these occur.
Social: counselling the patient about employment, driving, marriage and having children, helping the family coping with the epileptic fits. The person may require being registered as disabled.
