[Report of a study concerning carry-over in epilepsy patients: questionnaire survey of neurologists].

We conducted a questionnaire survey on 7,500 members of the Societas Neurologica Japonica regarding the carry-over from pediatric to adult epilepsy care. The response rate was 16.9%. Analysis of the responses showed that 46% of the neurologists were aware of the term "carry-over" in epilepsy care, and 78% felt difficulties with epilepsy care in general. The most common reasons included "not familiar with interpreting EEG" and "not familiar with the laws, regulations and medical and welfare systems specific to epilepsy". Among the neurologists who felt difficulties when accepting epilepsy patients aged 20 years or older referred from the pediatric department, 68% had experienced accepting these patients. The two major reasons for feeling difficulties when accepting these patients were "difficult to have good understanding of the disease course from infancy" and "not familiar with the epilepsy syndrome specific to infancy". The above findings highlight the importance of recognizing the existence of the issue of carry-over in adult epilepsy care and its significance, and to resolve the factors that hinder the transition of care. To achieve this goal, joint activities of the Japanese Society of Child Neurology and the Japan Epilepsy Society in collaboration with the Societas Neurologica Japonica, the Japanese Society of Psychiatry and Neurology, and the Japan Neurosurgical Society are critical.