2008 Epilepsy Conference

Morning Keynote Address:

Health care is a partnership between patient and doctor that relies on knowledge and communication. Patients can achieve a good quality of life if they refuse to accept seizures and side effects and pursue the best available options.

Different kinds of Epilepsy effect mood and behavior in dissimilar ways. Three significant points of behavioral or pharmacological intervention (discussed further in slideshow) can help prevent, abort and treat a patient’s mood, irritability or psychosis.

This conference clarified what someone with Epilepsy should know about the disorder. Topics included: Basic Statistics; “Seizure” vs. “Epilepsy”; Types of Seizures; Treatment Options; Steps to Take When a Seizure Occurs; Expectations from Office Visits.

Dr. Gazzola begins with a basic overview of how hormones affect epilepsy and how anti-epileptic drugs affect bone health in women. Then, Dr. Marcuse concludes with a discussion of AED use for women who are pregnant, breast feeding or on birth control.

In this conference Dr. William Barr answers the questions: 1) What is memory? 2) How is memory affected by Epilepsy? 3) What can I do to improve my memory?

Breakout Session C:

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of a new treatment there must be a correct diagnosis, knowledge of a natural history of the syndrome, double blinding and control of the subjects, and compliance. Dr. Orrin Devinsky discusses several alternative therapies to Epilepsy.

Dr. Ruben Kuzniecky discusses different kinds of Epilepsy, presurgical evaluations, the surgery, and MRIs. Later, Dr. Howard Weiner discusses the risks and benefits of surgery, more about the surgical procedure and brain surgery on children. He concludes that surgery is safe and effective in carefully selected patients. Doctors have only just begun to identify potential patients; however, new medical advances allow surgeons to consider more children and be more aggressive.

Dr. Jacqueline French talks about new Anti-Epileptic Drugs on the market, such as Lacosamide, Rufinamide, AEDs, Retigabine, Brivaracetam, and Eslicarbazepine. She concludes with what researchers and the FDA need to change about current clinical trials.