Patients with nonepileptic seizures (NES) frequently present in neurology, psychiatry, psychology, and emergency departments. The disorder has been well-documented in the medical literature, and much is known about the phenomenology, ictal semiology, neurologic signs, psychiatric comorbidities, neuropsychological testing, and psychosocial aspects. Since the publication of the third edition in 2010, knowledge of treatments for NES has grown and new data have become available. Fully updated to reflect these developments, this fourth edition brings together the current knowledge of NES treatments, drawing on the experience of an international team of authors. An accompanying website features video-EEGs of seizures and videos of patient-clinician interactions, which will help readers with both diagnostic and management decisions. Tables clearly illustrating the differential diagnosis of various nonepileptic events give readers quick reference guides to aid diagnostic assessment. A valuable resource for neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and any clinicians who encounter NES in their practice.

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: Mechanisms and New Methods for Analyzing Risks builds on earlier works focusing on the clinical problem of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). This book presents a methodology for identifying and classifying clusters of risks that lead to SUDEP. Developed over the last two years, the SUDEP Classification System and Risk Factor Cluster ID method will help to address gaps in our knowledge about the causes and possible prevention of this tragic complication. Exploring the interactions among the central and peripheral autonomic nervous systems and the cardiopulmonary systems, the book includes case studies of SUDEP, definite or probable, as well as near miss cases. It discusses how neurologists, emergency room physicians, and attending physicians can identify individuals at possible risk for SUDEP and lessen the chance of occurrence. Top medical professionals in the field detail the development of an international database of human cases and animal models of SUDEP and suggest how medical examiner and coroner offices can strengthen the database by providing information about incidences of SUDEP. In addition, the book describes related clinical and animal studies needed to classify risk factors for SUDEP victims. Understanding the risk factors and mechanisms underlying SUDEP will facilitate collaborative research in the laboratory, hospital, and clinic and lead to improved effectiveness of SUDEP prevention strategies.

From pediatric to the elderly, from contractible to refractive, this bestselling short text contains 110 cases covering all aspects of epilepsy. Each case follows the same format.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203213335

This second edition presents a timely, practical, clinically relevant and focused updated discussion of vagal nerve stimulation in a readily-understood and well-illustrated format. It provides a clinical approach to the treatment of patients with medically-intractable seizures, as well as for those with depression (a new indication since the first edition).

From pediatric to the elderly, from contractible to refractive, epilepsy is an illness that manifests in many forms and across a range of demographics. In this fascinating volume, the author details more than one hundred instances where health care practitioners faced unusual challenges in treating the disease. All aspects of epilepsy are explored through these cases, from the sometimes confusing initial diagnosis to patient responses and treatment methods. In this best-selling short text, the author also presents the lessons learned from these extraordinary cases. 110 Puzzling Cases in Epilepsy is useful for medical students, residents and all health care practitioners, as the practices used to understand these cases can be applied to other diagnoses as well.

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 post-ictal 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 common and very important disorder of Epilepsy is led by Dr. Steven Schachter in this issue of Neurologic Clinics. The majority of articles review methods for application of standards, guidelines, and consensus statement to clinical practice by Primary Care physicians and general Neurologists using validated and evidence-based tools such as screening instruments and algorithms for a number of critically important topics, ranging from initial evaluation to monitoring patients on treatment to counseling and educating patients on SUDEP and driving. Topics in this issue include: Guidelines and quality standards for adult epilepsy patients; Guidelines and quality standards in care of children with epilepsy; Initial evaluation of the patient with suspected epilepsy; Starting, choosing, changing, and discontinuing treatment; Methods for measuring seizure frequency and severity; Assessment of treatment side effects and quality of life; Screening for depression and anxiety; Counseling patients on driving and employment; Issues for women with epilepsy; Patient education (SUDEP - Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy; Self-management; Adherence; Rescue medication); Optimizing the patient-physician therapeutic alliance.

Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: Mechanisms and New Methods for Analyzing Risks builds on earlier works focusing on the clinical problem of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). This book presents a methodology for identifying and classifying clusters of risks that lead to SUDEP. Developed over the last two years, the SUDEP Classification System and Risk Factor Cluster ID method will help to address gaps in our knowledge about the causes and possible prevention of this tragic complication. Exploring the interactions among the central and peripheral autonomic nervous systems and the cardiopulmonary systems, the book includes case studies of SUDEP, definite or probable, as well as near miss cases. It discusses how neurologists, emergency room physicians, and attending physicians can identify individuals at possible risk for SUDEP and lessen the chance of occurrence. Top medical professionals in the field detail the development of an international database of human cases and animal models of SUDEP and suggest how medical examiner and coroner offices can strengthen the database by providing information about incidences of SUDEP. In addition, the book describes related clinical and animal studies needed to classify risk factors for SUDEP victims. Understanding the risk factors and mechanisms underlying SUDEP will facilitate collaborative research in the laboratory, hospital, and clinic and lead to improved effectiveness of SUDEP prevention strategies.

Just over a century after the publication of Sir William Gowers' famous last book, The Border-land of Epilepsy, Faints, Vagal Attacks, Vertigo, Migraine, Sleep Symptoms, and their Treatment, this book returns to the "borderland of epilepsy - near it, but not of it", i.e. to disorders which may be mistaken for epilepsy or which are associated with epilepsy and can develop into or out of epileptic seizures. Internationally recognized experts, provide up-to-date knowledge in all areas covered in Gowers' original publication and also in those borderlands redefined since - including anxiety or hyperventilation attacks, psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, epileptic and nonepileptic encephalopathies, autism, autoimmune encephalopathies, Tourette's Syndrome, transient ischemic attacks, transient global amnesia, myoclonus, alcohol-related seizures, hyperekplexia and dyskinesia, stereotypical behaviors, organic personality disorder and episodic dyscontrol syndrome. The Borderland of Epilepsy Revisited addresses conditions presenting in children, adolescents and adults. Case reports and tables (especially those which address the differential diagnosis of epilepsy and the disorders discussed) make the book accessible and clinically useful.

This book is a short and simple pedagogical guide to the diagnosis and management of epilepsy. After the headache, epilepsy is the second most common neurological disorder, and this book clarifies the many courses of action to take in treating patients with epilepsy. The book simplifies the classification, testing, and treatment of epilepsy, addresses important psychosocial issues and the efficacy of pharmaceutical and other interventions, and also includes an account of modern concepts of the aetiology of the disease. The Comprehensive Evaluation and Treatment of Epilepsy: A Practical Guide is an important reference work for all medical schools, hospitals, clinics and primary care centers. Features: * CONTAINS ESSENTIALS ON: * Initial management of patients with seizures * Psychosocial aspects of epilepsy * Neuropsychologic problems associated with epilepsy * Psychiatric disorders * Diagnosis and treatment of status epilepticus * Nonepileptic seizures * Ambulatory EEG monitoring * Epilepsy surgery * Endocrine aspects of partial seizures * Epilepsy in the elderly

In the last five years, approximately 2.7 million people have been treated for epilepsy and it is estimated that as much as one in one-hundred of the world's population will develop epilepsy during their lifetime. It is further estimated that 60 million people worldwide have epilepsy and in the United States alone, between seventy to eighty thousand people are newly diagnosed each year. Despite being such a common problem, most people know little about the disorder and people with epilepsy feel stigmatized.
Filled with illustrations on almost every page and boasting an attractive and stimulating layout, Epilepsy Explained offers a wealth of crystal clear information on epilepsy, intended for patients, family members, friends, and caregivers. This down-to-earth book is divided into easy-to-digest sections that address such fundamental questions as what epilepsy is, what happens in different types of epileptic seizures, how epilepsy is diagnosed, and how seizures are treated. The authors include much-needed information on numerous topics, including living successfully with seizures, patients rights, and current drugs used to treat epilepsy--all described with directness and clarity, with many real-life examples that shed light on how the topic under discussion affects people with epilepsy. The book includes information for particular groups of readers such as women, children, and teens. It has an easy-to-follow organization, is clearly structured and has a detailed index and glossary, allowing readers to easily find specific information pertaining to their condition. Written by physicians who work daily with epilepsy, this clear and engaging book provides people with the knowledge they need to make informed choices about their illness.

Epilepsy in our Lives presents accounts of seizures by women with epilepsy, and their experiences living with the problem and how this disorder has changed their lives. They discuss the impact of epilepsy on their roles as mothers, wives and individuals, and express their concerns about how epilepsy will affect pregnancy outcome, the health of their babies, and parenting. They share candidly how epilepsy impacts family planning, fertility and sexuality. ABOUT THE SERIES: With the Brainstorms series, one of the world's leading authorities on epilepsy, Dr Steven C. Schachter, has gathered together the personal testimonies of patients, family members, and caregivers to create a poignant and gripping series of books on this misunderstood and often devastating disorder.

Epilepsy in our View is a collection of personal stories from friends, family members, and co-workers of people with epilepsy, in which they describe their observations and feelings about witnessing seizures and about the person with epilepsy. It helps to shed light on the social consequences of epilepsy while increasing understanding of what's happening when a person has a seizure. ABOUT THE SERIES: With the Brainstorms series, one of the world's leading authorities on epilepsy, Dr Steven C. Schachter, has gathered together the personal testimonies of patients, family members, and caregivers to create a poignant and gripping series of books on this misunderstood and often devastating disorder.

Epilepsy in our Words features 68 personal accounts of seizure activity from people with epilepsy that illustrate the wide range of experiences associated with seizures and living with epilepsy. Many have had epilepsy for years, and their accounts are heartfelt and realistic. An introductory section explains epilepsy and different seizure types from a medical perspective. An index helps readers focus on particular symptoms and other specific aspects of seizures, such as seizure warnings and triggers. ABOUT THE SERIES: With the Brainstorms series, one of the world's leading authorities on epilepsy, Dr Steven C. Schachter, has gathered together the personal testimonies of patients, family members, and caregivers to create a poignant and gripping series of books on this misunderstood and often devastating disorder.

Nearly 60 million people around the world live with epilepsy. This collection of frank narratives by people with epilepsy from 21 countries offers unique perspectives on the personal and social aspects of seizure disorders. Reflecting a diverse array of cultures, the narratives reveal many common concerns and show the distinct ways that people around the world affected by epilepsy react to the diagnosis and cope with their families, friends and communities. The book includes chapters on the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy and a physician's firsthand experience in East Africa. Appendices list contact information for each affiliate of the International League Against Epilepsy and the International Bureau for Epilepsy. ABOUT THE SERIES: With the Brainstorms series, one of the world's leading authorities on epilepsy, Dr Steven C. Schachter, has gathered together the personal testimonies of patients, family members, and caregivers to create a poignant and gripping series of books on this misunderstood and often devastating disorder.

This book reveals the wide range of emotions, challenges and triumphs experienced by those who work with epilepsy patients and their families. The book also records the profound, uplifting and often heartbreaking experiences of practitioners with seizures who have come to understand, firsthand, the perspective of patients with epilepsy. ABOUT THE SERIES: With the Brainstorms series, one of the world's leading authorities on epilepsy, Dr Steven C. Schachter, has gathered together the personal testimonies of patients, family members, and caregivers to create a poignant and gripping series of books on this misunderstood and often devastating disorder.

This enlightening book presents the firsthand personal accounts of children with seizure disorders and their parents. In their own words, they vividly describe the experiences of handling the crisis of the first seizure, adjusting to the diagnosis of epilepsy, coping with seizures, managing medications and side effects, and dealing with health care providers, teachers, schoolmates, siblings, and friends. The accounts reveal the terror, uncertainty and frustration felt by children and parents after a diagnosis of epilepsy, and document the ongoing trials, tribulations and triumphs of coping with seizures, medication schedules and side effects, health care providers and hospitals, schoolmates, siblings, relatives and friends. These accounts provide realistic insights into the myriad issues encountered in living with childhood epilepsy. The book also includes a straightforward medical discussion of childhood seizures, written in layperson's terms; a glossary of medical terms; and a guide for schoolteachers and parents written by the Executive Director of the Epilepsy Association of Massachusetts. Appendices provide a directory of Epilepsy Foundation of America affiliates; a list of recommended books, publications and videotapes, and information about the Epilepsy Foundation of America's Winning Kids program. ABOUT THE SERIES: With the Brainstorms series, one of the world's leading authorities on epilepsy, Dr Steven C. Schachter, has gathered together the personal testimonies of patients, family members, and caregivers to create a poignant and gripping series of books on this misunderstood and often devastating disorder.

Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) can cause blackouts, collapses, involuntary movements, loss of memory and have major impact on quality of life. Whereas epilepsy is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, PNES are psychological-based responses to triggers inside or outside the body that are perceived as threatening by the person affected. PNES are poorly understood by the medical community. It is common for doctors to struggle to explain this diagnosis, which can leave their patients frustrated and confused. Often people are told that their PNES are caused by "stress" and sent away with no further support or advice. It is no wonder that those affected feel isolated, abandoned and hopeless about living with the condition. In Our Words: Personal Accounts of Living with Non-Epileptic Seizures shows those diagnosed with PNES that they are not alone, and how others have courageously managed to come to terms with their seizures. These heartfelt personal accounts will also allow family, friends, healthcare providers and researchers to gain more understanding of the condition and work to provide a better quality of life to those living with PNES.

Epilepsy afflicts more than two million people in the United States and over 50 million people globally. This issue of Neurologic Clinics contains the following articles on this condition: Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy; Approaches to Seizure Prediction; Localizing Seizure Onset; Concomitant Mood Disorders; Advances in the Genetics of Epilepsy; Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures; Selection of AEDs; Indentification of Refractory Epilepsy; Therapeutic Brain Stimulation in Epilepsy; AED Tertogneiticity; Hormonal Aspects of Epilepsy; Epilepsy and Radiosurgery; Epilepsy and Cognition; and Determinants of Quality of Life in Epilepsy.

Visions: The Inspirational Journeys of Epilepsy Advocates contains the stories of 50 people who have answered the call to advocate on behalf of those with epilepsy. They are people with epilepsy or members of their community, motivated to make a positive impact through education and awareness, empowerment, fundraising, healthcare and research, and organizational advocacy. Shining a light on well-known issues as well as rare forms of epilepsy and SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy), these advocates depict their journeys through both prose and photographs. Along with stories that depict the advocates' journeys, photographs show these advocates and their work in action. Visions: The Inspirational Journeys of Epilepsy Advocates empowers people affected by epilepsy and inspires continued advocacy for what has been a misunderstood and underfunded neurological disorder.

To an outside observer, Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) look like epileptic seizures. The manifestations of PNES include collapses, impaired consciousness, and seizure-related injuries. However, unlike epileptic seizures, which are the result of abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, most PNES are an automatic psychological response to a trigger perceived as threatening. Not least because the changes in the brain that underpin PNES cannot be visualised easily with clinical tests (such as the EEG), there are many uncertainties and controversies surrounding the condition. Patients often provoke a mixture of emotions in healthcare professionals. In the authors' previous book, In Our Words: Personal Accounts of Living with Non-Epileptic Seizures, over 100 individuals with PNES and their family wrote about their experiences with the condition. While some had positive care experiences, many were left feeling confused, angry, and abandoned by the clinicians they had encountered. Non-Epileptic Seizures in Our Experience: Accounts of Health Care Professionals complements the authors' previous book by presenting the perspectives of over 90 members of different healthcare professions from around the world. The anonymous publication format has enabled many not only to share success stories but also to be open about difficulties and failures. This volume will be an invaluable resource for both highly experienced professionals as well as relative novice and those experiencing PNES. This book will challenge negative attitudes surrounding the condition, improve understanding between healthcare professionals and patients, and - ultimately - advance the quality of care provided for those with PNES.

This comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to epilepsy compares and contrasts scientific knowledge, clinical experience and social consciousness between Western and non-Western cultures, enhancing transcultural understanding and providing a paradigm for an integrative, truly global health policy for this disorder. Topics covered include pharmacological and non-pharmacological management of epilepsy; care models and traditional medical systems; service organization in resource-limited countries; cultural perspectives on consequences of epilepsy; social, anthropological, economic, political, and spiritual issues related to living with epilepsy; infectious and non-infectious causes and risk-factors; region-specific syndromes. Uniquely drawing attention to both a medical perspective and the burden of living with epilepsy, this is a must-have reference work for epileptologists, neurologists, epidemiologists, medical policymakers and health administrators in both the developed and developing world.