Epilepsy Topics

An international group of recognised experts has contributed to this volume to discuss a variety of topics on epilepsy. The subject matter is diverse, including new concepts in brain circuitry involved in seizure generation, a discussion on reflex epilepsy, reviews and updates on juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, the role of EEG in epilepsy evaluation, the novel possibility of employing scalp EEG for seizure prediction, the roles of vagus nerve stimulation and other neuromodulatory therapies, non-epileptic seizures, and, no less important, some of the psychosocial issues that confront the patient and his or her family. This volume is not a comprehensive overview of the entire field of epilepsy, but each discussion is focused and will be valuable to both investigators and practitioners.

Although epilepsy is one of the nation's most common neurological disorders, public understanding of it is limited. Many people do not know the causes of epilepsy or what they should do if they see someone having a seizure. Epilepsy is a complex spectrum of disorders that affects an estimated 2.2 million Americans in a variety of ways, and is characterized by unpredictable seizures that differ in type, cause, and severity. Yet living with epilepsy is about much more than just seizures; the disorder is often defined in practical terms, such as challenges in school, uncertainties about social situations and employment, limitations on driving, and questions about independent living. The Institute of Medicine was asked to examine the public health dimensions of the epilepsies, focusing on public health surveillance and data collection; population and public health research; health policy, health care, and human services; and education for people with the disorder and their families, health care providers, and the public. In Epilepsy Across the Spectrum, the IOM makes recommendations ranging from the expansion of collaborative epilepsy surveillance efforts, to the coordination of public awareness efforts, to the engagement of people with epilepsy and their families in education, dissemination, and advocacy for improved care and services. Taking action across multiple dimensions will improve the lives of people with epilepsy and their families. The realistic, feasible, and action-oriented recommendations in this report can help enable short- and long-term improvements for people with epilepsy. For all epilepsy organizations and advocates, local, state, and federal agencies, researchers, health care professionals, people with epilepsy, as well as the public, Epilepsy Across the Spectrum is an essential resource.

This book is dedicated to Dr. Philip A. Schwartzkroin. The book has a novel format because it is not intended to be a set of reviews. Instead, it is an effort to explore important topics in the epilepsy research field. Because articles are written by leaders in the field who have years of experience and individuals with diverse expertise, articles are likely to have a long-lasting impact and be relevant for both epileptologists and neuroscientists. Authors address topics that are important, unresolved questions in the field of epilepsy research, drawing on available data from both the bench and the clinic to support their points. A given topic is addressed by one or more authors, each writing from his/her own unique perspective. For all of the individuals who have been trained or worked with Philip Schwartzkroin in the past and/or have appreciated his contributions to the epilepsy field, this volume is an excellent way to celebrate his achievements and look to the ways they have moved the field forward and continue to stimulate its growth.

Published in association with the Epilepsy Foundation of America, this handbook reviews the special problems faced by women with epilepsy.

In this issue of Neurologic Clinics, guest editor Dr. Steven C. Schachter brings his considerable expertise to the topic of Epilepsy. Top experts in the field cover key topics such as telemedicine and epilepsy care; wearable technologies and mobile apps in the evaluation and treatment of epilepsy; effects of maternal use of AEDs on child development; sleep and epilepsy; dietary treatments for epilepsy; and more. Contains 15 relevant, practice-oriented topics including racial/ethnic disparities in epilepsy burden and treatment; autism and epilepsy; emerging technologies for epilepsy surgery; prevalence and diagnosis of sexual dysfunction in people with epilepsy; epilepsy in older persons; rescue treatments for seizure clusters; and more. Provides in-depth clinical reviews on epilepsy, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.

The clinical management of patients with epilepsy and the associated medical literature are rapidly evolving. Evidence-based Management of Epilepsy differs from other epilepsy textbooks by focusing specifically on topics where the available evidence is sufficiently well developed to be synthesized into straightforward summaries of proven therapies. When evidence is missing or there is doubt, controversy or ambiguity, the distinguished authors offer treatment recommendations based on practice guidelines or consensus statements that span the gaps in evidence while pointing to those areas where further research is needed. The initial chapters cover critically important aspects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and surgical treatment such as when to start and stop AEDs, how to monitor their effectiveness, special considerations in women who become pregnant, and when to consider surgery to alleviate seizures. The following chapters cover the therapy of seizures when they develop after traumatic brain injury or stroke, and the treatment of concomitant depression and anxiety in patients with epilepsy. The final chapters discuss emerging topics in epilepsy: the treatment of the postictal state, technologies to predict and detect seizures, strategies for closing the treatment gap and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. The contributors are renowned experts in their fields who successfully and succinctly present state-of-the-art reviews based on the medical evidence designed to help the clinician be as best informed as possible in the care of patients with epilepsy.

This was an exciting project to work on, and I attempted to obtain a broad sampling of current research on the neuropsychology of epilepsy. Because the emphasis of the book takes a neuropsychological perspective on epilepsy, the coverage is not redundant with previous texts on this topic. The book is organized around three themes, although individual chapters certainly often extend beyond the part in which they are located. The three major topics are the nature of epilepsy, cognitive and emotional consequences of epilepsy, and treatment approaches to epilepsy and outcome. In Part I, following a historical overview of epilepsy in Chapter 1 by Sandra D. Haynes and me, Gerald C. McIntosh presents a conceptualization of the epilepsies from a neurologist's perspective. The characteristics of seizure types are discussed, and the etiology of secondary epilepsies is described. Epileptic syndromes are considered. McIntosh outlines clinical seizure patterns associated with seizures originating from different cortical regions.