Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
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Comparative Study
A comparative study of health related quality of life, psychological well-being, impact of illness and stigma in epilepsy and migraine.
This study aimed to show the difference of epilepsy from another chronic neurological disorder with episodic manifestations (CDEM): migraine. Seventy persons with epilepsy (PWE), 56 persons with migraine (PWM) and 45 healthy control participants (HCs) were included. The groups were compared in terms of demographics, quality of life, depression and self-esteem. ⋯ Also, the PWM emphasized the importance of being "able to fulfil daily living, social and work activities", while the PWE emphasized the need for "independence" constantly. These results indicate that, although both migraine and epilepsy are CDEMs, they have different levels of impact on patients' lives. The impacts are socially greater in epilepsy and extend beyond the neurological condition itself.
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Comparative Study
A prospective study of levetiracetam efficacy in epileptic syndromes with continuous spikes-waves during slow sleep.
To evaluate the add-on effect of levetiracetam (LEV) treatment on the EEG and clinical status of children with continuous spikes-waves during slow sleep (CSWS). ⋯ This study suggests that add-on therapy with LEV is more effective in children with CSWS resulting from a known underlying structural brain lesion (the symptomatic group).
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Levetiracetam (LEV) is a broad spectrum antiepileptic drug (AED) with a unique mechanism of action. This retrospective audit explores outcomes in patients commenced on LEV monotherapy at the Epilepsy Unit at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland from 1st January 2001 until 30th June 2009. ⋯ Seizure freedom was achieved in around half the patients on a median LEV dose of 1000 mg/day. This was more likely to occur in those taking the drug as first monotherapy, and in those with <5 pre-treatment seizures. Around 50% of those who discontinued LEV due to side effects developed neuropsychiatric symptoms.
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Patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs) or pseudoseizures are known to have psychiatric comorbidities. In the present retrospective analysis, we examined the sociodemographics, clinical characteristics, and psychiatric diagnoses of patients with PNESs. Our aim is to demonstrate the contribution of the consulting psychiatrists to the presumed psychiatric diagnoses of the neurologists. ⋯ All of the PNES patients were diagnosed with conversion disorder by both the neurologists and the psychiatrists. Most of the PNES patients were using multiple AEDs. Cooperation between neurologists and psychiatrists and ongoing education for both neurologists and psychiatrists about PNES are needed in appropriate diagnosing and management of patients with PNES.
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Comparative Study
Long term outcome in patients not initially seizure free after resective epilepsy surgery.
To assess the long-term seizure outcome and find predictors of outcome for patients who were not initially seizure free 6 months after epilepsy surgery. ⋯ The frequency and type of postoperative seizures are critical determinants for long-term outcome. Seizure semiology may be the clue to a precise diagnosis and long-term prognosis of epilepsy.