It is currently believed that the mechanisms underlying spindle oscillations are related to those that generate spike and wave (SW) discharges. The mechanisms of transition between these two types of activity, however, are not well understood. In order to provide more insight into the dynamics of the neuronal networks leading to seizure generation in a rat experimental model of absence epilepsy...

PURPOSE In response to continuing concerns regarding the quality and equality of care for children and young people, the British Paediatric Neurology Association (BPNA) has supported the development of practical and meaningful audit to support quality improvement. METHOD In 2006, the Children's Epilepsy Workstream in Trent (CEWT) coordinated a retrospective multi-service audit of paediatric e...

Objective. To test a theoretical explanatory model of the relationship between depression symptom scores and seizure frequency in people with epilepsy. Methods. A community based sample of adults with active epilepsy provided information on depression symptom scores and seizure frequency at two time points, one year apart. Results. 1210 patients completed the initial questionnaire and 976 of th...

Simultaneous video (closed circuit television [CCTV]) and EEG recordings are important in the differentiation of epileptic and non-epileptic paroxysmal episodes and in the classification of epilepsy syndromes. An additional benefit from the observation of the child on CCTV is the possible identification of specific clinical, including genetic, conditions. This three-year prospective study of 27...

BACKGROUND Epilepsy is a long-term condition that requires self-management, but currently, there is no well-evaluated epilepsy self-education or self-management intervention in the United Kingdom (UK). AIM The aim of this study was to examine the views and experiences of the first participants of the Self-Management in epILEpsy UK (SMILE UK) program to assist the development of a full trial. ...

Critical to decision analysis studies are measures of outcome utilities. In epilepsy surgery the benefit versus risk ratio is of particular interest in neocortical resections. Using the standard gamble, we measured preferences of 30 epilepsy patients for 10 outcome states specific to neocortical epilepsy surgery. Although considered preliminary, the findings suggest that the value of being seiz...

A gas-chromatographic analysis for the succinimide anticonvulsant drugs--ethosuximide, methsuximide, and phensuximide--in 1.0 ml of serum was modified to improve its reliability, speed, and precision. A separate procedure for 10-100 mul of serum was also developed. Neither method requires an initial preparation of derivatives. The working range of each method is about 10-100 mg/liter for the ma...

We report the use of repeat electroencephalography (EEG) in the management of 69 patients with childhood-onset absence epilepsy (CAE). Electro-clinical absences were demonstrated in seven children who were felt clinically to have persisting absences. In three of the remaining 62 patients who were thought to be seizure-free, repeat EEG showed electro-clinical absences; revision of AEDs in these ...

The aim of this study was to examine epilepsy sufferers' attitudes to and knowledge of their condition, the effect of epilepsy on their lives and their views on the management they had received, and to compare knowledge and attitudes with those of a control group of non-sufferers. A questionnaire was completed by 29 patients with epilepsy and 32 control group subjects from two general practices...

PURPOSE Epilepsy surgery (ES) not only remains one of the most underutilized of all accepted medical interventions, but there has also been a decrease in referrals for ES in recent years in high-income countries. We undertook this study to determine the temporal trends of ES and its current state in India. METHODS We asked the directors of epilepsy centers across India to complete an online q...