PURPOSE To investigate changes in the choice of first anti-epileptic drug (AED) and co-prescription of folic acid after a new diagnosis of epilepsy. METHODS We searched anonymised electronic primary care records dating between 2000 and 2010 for patients with a new diagnosis of epilepsy and recorded the first AED prescribed and whether folic acid was co-prescribed. RESULTS From 13.3 million ...

The etiology of epilepsy is a very complicated, multifactorial process that is not completely understood. Therefore, the availability of epilepsy animal models induced by different mechanisms is crucial in advancing our knowledge and developing new therapeutic regimens for this disorder. Considering the advantages of zebrafish, we have developed a seizure model in zebrafish larvae using ginkgot...

BACKGROUND Treatment of high-grade glioma (HGG) patients with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) has met with various side effects, such as cognitive deterioration. The cognitive effects of both older and newer AEDs in HGG patients are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of older and newer AEDs on cognitive performance in postoperative HGG patients. METHODS We selected...

Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) have a global effect on the neurophysiology of the brain which is most likely reflected in functional brain activity recorded with EEG and fMRI. These effects may cause substantial inter-subject variability in studies where EEG correlated functional MRI (EEG-fMRI) is used to determine the epileptogenic zone in patients who are candidate for epilepsy surgery. In the p...

PURPOSE Adverse effects of anti epileptic drugs (AEDs) can significantly affect the life of people with epilepsy. We used a register to determine if polytherapy with AED has more adverse effects than monotherapy. METHODS We established a register for people with epilepsy (www.UKAED.info). Participants were requested to complete the Liverpool Adverse Event Profile (LAEP) to quantify adverse ef...

BACKGROUND To determine whether withdrawal of anticonvulsant drugs (AED) can be carried out safely in patients with non-epileptic seizures (NES). METHODS Prospective evaluation of safety and outcome in 78 patients with NES who satisfied a standardised set of criteria for excluding the diagnosis of coexisting or underlying epilepsy. FINDINGS The patients were taking from one to three AED. Si...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to find if systemic family therapy (SFT) does work in anxiety and depression with epilepsy in adolescents (ADAE). METHODS 104 adolescents with epilepsy, aged 13-20 years old, were included from December 2009 to December 2010, the enrolled patients were with anxiety [Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score ≥14 points] or depression [Hamilton Depression Scale (HA...

This study was conducted to observe the effect of some commonly used anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), on cognition, in 118 school going children with epilepsy, in an age range of 9-12 yrs., (Mean 10.4 +/- 1.7 yrs.). For comparison, 28 healthy, age and sex matched schoolchildren served as controls. After a clinical, electrophysiological and radiological evaluation, the cognitive functions were asses...