Understanding Epilepsy

A comprehensive, accessible synthesis of current information on epilepsy for medical trainees and physicians preparing for board certification.

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.

Perhaps the most important achievements in the field of epileptology in the past two decades have been in the neuroimaging and genetic breakthroughs as applied to patients with epilepsy. Indeed, neuroimaging has become a vital part in the study of epilepsy, affecting broad aspects of the disorder ranging from diagnosis and classification to treatment and prognosis. Neuroimaging in epilepsy encompasses many different approaches that have reached various levels of expertise across epilepsy centers worldwide. This book discusses every imaging modality used to gather information on epilepsy. Each technique is described by world experts and epilepsy centers worldwide.

Uses current knowledge of epilepsy and epileptic seizures as a yardstick against which to interpret the thinking of the past. Attempts to trace the development of thought about individual aspects of the understanding of epilepsy one after the other and on a chronological basis.

This book gives an exhaustive account of the classification and management of epileptic disorders. It provides clear didactic guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of epileptic syndromes and seizures through thirteen chapters, complemented by a pharmacopoeia and CD ROM of video-EEGs.

To most of us epilepsy means dramatic and uncontrolled convulsions. The reality is more complex and less alarming. To dispel the mystery and to provide real help, two leading epilepsy specialists have written this succinct guide. Explaining that epilepsy is a symptom not a disease, they take you through the types and causes of epileptic seizure, giving special emphasis to the options for treatment and discussing the latest advances in drug therapy. Their conclusion is that epilepsy may be common, but usually gets better and there are excellent ways of controlling it.

This easy-to-read guide for lay persons offers an overview of the medical and social topics relevant to epilepsy, including diagnosis and treatment, epilepsy in children and adults, legal and financial issues, and available resources. Includes a complete glossary of terms and anti epileptic drugs, plus tables and illustrations.

Epilepsy is characterized by seizures. These seizures can persist for a shorter or longer duration of time. These are generally a set of neurological disorders that result in constant shaking of the body. They may erupt at any point of time and even have the potential to cause physical damage. The causes underneath these attacks are relatively unknown but some of them may occur due to stroke, brain tumors, brain infections or birth defects. Diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy may involve performing blood tests, brain mapping, electroencephalogram and anticonvulsant medications for entire life. In this book, using case studies and examples, constant effort has been made to make the understanding of the difficult concepts of epilepsy as easy and informative as possible, for the readers. This book is a compilation of chapters that discuss the most vital concepts and emerging trends revolving around the symptoms, mechanisms, causes, treatment, and management of this disease. Scientists, neurologists, experts and students actively engaged in this field will find this book full of crucial and unexplored concepts.