Long-term outcome and predictors of vagus nerve stimulation for drug-resistant epilepsy: Real-world evidence from the Korean national hospital consortium.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the long-term outcome and prognostic factors of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) using real-world data.

Method: We included 189 DRE patients who underwent VNS implantation between 2005 and 2018 at nine national hospitals in Korea. Seizure-frequency data obtained quarterly one year before and after surgery and annually up to four years after surgery were collected from medical records.

A multicenter study of altered level of consciousness in the emergency room.

New-onset altered level of consciousness (ALC) is a challenge in real-world clinical practice. Although its presentation is nonspecific and its etiology is intricate, the term ALC is frequently used in the emergency room (ER). This study aimed to clarify and classify the etiologies and outcomes of the ALC in the ER.

Relationship between Apathy and Subjective Poor Night-time Sleep in de novo, Untreated Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Sleep disturbance is one of the most common non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the confounding effects of dopaminergic medication on sleep are a major challenge in understanding the impact of sleep disturbance in PD. We investigated the sleep disturbance and associated clinical features in patients with de novo, untreated PD.

Alterations of Functional Connectivity in Patients With Restless Legs Syndrome.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological illness marked by a strong desire to move one's legs, usually in association with uncomfortable sensations. Recent studies have investigated brain networks and connectivity in RLS. The advent of network analysis has greatly improved our understanding of the brain and various neurological disorders.

Etiologies of altered level of consciousness in the emergency room.

Altered levels of consciousness (ALCs) is a challenging issue; however, data describing its etiology and frequency are lacking. This study aimed to clarify and classify the etiologies of ALCs in the emergency room (ER) and to evaluate their destinations and the form of discharge. This retrospective study included patients with an ALC who visited the ER of a university hospital between January 2018 and December 2020.

Survey on Antiepileptic Drug Therapy in Patients with Drug Resistant Epilepsy.

Background And Purpose: Individualized anti-epileptic drug (AED) selection in patient with epilepsy is crucial. However, there is no unified opinion in treating patients with drug resistant epilepsy (DRE). This survey aimed to make a consolidate consensus with epileptologists' perspectives of the treatment for Korean DRE patients by survey responses.

Treatments for Convulsive and Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus in Adults: An Expert Opinion Survey in South Korea.

Background And Purpose: The aim of this study was to survey the expert opinions on treatments for convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) and nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) in adults.

Methods: Forty-two South Korean epileptologists participated in this survey. They completed an online questionnaire regarding various patient scenarios and evaluated the appropriateness of medications used to treat CSE and NCSE.

Antiepileptic Drug Therapy for Status Epilepticus.

Status epilepticus (SE) is one of the most serious neurologic emergencies. SE is a condition that encompasses a broad range of semiologic subtypes and heterogeneous etiologies. The treatment of SE primarily involves the management of the underlying etiology and the use of antiepileptic drug therapy to rapidly terminate seizure activities.

Pharmacological Treatment of Epilepsy in Elderly Patients.

The incidence and prevalence of epilepsy are highest in elderly people, and the etiologies of epilepsy in the elderly differ from those in other age groups. Moreover, diagnosing and treating epilepsy in elderly people may be challenging due to differences in clinical characteristics and physiological changes associated with aging. This review focuses on the pharmacological treatment of epilepsy in elderly patients.

Antiepileptic Drug Selection According to Seizure Type in Adult Patients with Epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that is mainly treated using antiepileptic drugs. Several antiepileptic drugs such as phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone, and ethosuximide were developed in the early 20th century. More than 10 types of antiepileptic drugs have been developed since the 1990s, and there are now more than 20 antiepileptic drugs in active clinical use.

Clinical Approach to Autoimmune Epilepsy.

Autoimmune epilepsy is a newly emerging area of epilepsy. The concept of "autoimmune" as an etiology has recently been revisited thanks to advances in autoimmune encephalitis and precision medicine with immunotherapies. Autoimmune epilepsy presents with specific clinical manifestations, and various diagnostic approaches including cerebrospinal fluid analysis, neuroimaging, and autoantibody tests are essential for its differential diagnosis.

Refining General Principles of Antiepileptic Drug Treatments for Epilepsy.

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the primary treatment strategy for epilepsy. As the use of AEDs has become more widespread and diverse over the past century, it has become necessary to refine the associated prescription strategies. This prompted the Drug Committee of the Korean Epilepsy Society to perform a systemic review of both international and domestic guidelines as well as literature related to medical treatment of epilepsy, and prepared a series of reviews to provide practical guidelines for clinicians to follow.

Factors associated with stigma and depressive symptoms in family members of patients with epilepsy.

Purpose: Literature regarding family stigma related to epilepsy is scarce. This study investigated the prevalence of family stigma and depressive symptoms and the associated factors among the family members of patients with epilepsy.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, Stigma Scale-Revised score ≥ 4 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥ 10 were considered indicative of moderate-to-severe stigma and depressive symptoms, respectively.

Treatment of epilepsy in adults: Expert opinion in South Korea.

Objective: The aim of this study was to gather the expert opinions of Korean epileptologists regarding the treatment of adult patients with epilepsy.

Methods: A total of 42 neurologists who specialized in epilepsy were surveyed. They completed an online questionnaire describing multiple patient scenarios.

Does the new Korean term for epilepsy reduce the stigma for Korean adults with epilepsy?

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in stigma, disclosure management of epilepsy, and knowledge about epilepsy between patients with epilepsy who recognized and did not recognize the new Korean term for epilepsy.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study. The Stigma Scale-Revised, the Disclosure Management Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and a questionnaire assessing knowledge about epilepsy were used.

Factors associated with social anxiety in South Korean adults with epilepsy.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine social anxiety in South Korean adults with epilepsy and to identify associated factors.

Method: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study in South Korea. Social anxiety was assessed using short forms of the Social Phobia Scale (SPS-6) and Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS-6).

Clinical significance of sensory hypersensitivities in migraine patients: does allodynia have a priority on it?

Objectives: This study investigated to identify the clinical significance of allodynia compared with other sensory hypersensitivities (SH) in migraine patients.

Methods: New patients with migraine were recruited from a headache clinic, and we collected data regarding their clinical characteristics and identified SH including photophobia, phonophobia, osmophobia, and allodynia. The patients completed the 12-item Allodynia Symptom Checklist, Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire Version 2.

Significance of fatigue in patients with migraine.

Fatigue is often stated as a headache trigger or migraine-specific symptom. We investigated predictors of fatigue and its impact on quality of life (QOL) in patients with migraine. Patients with migraine were recruited from a headache clinic and completed psychosomatic instruments, including the 12-item Allodynia Symptom Checklist (ASC-12), the Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS), the Patients Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ).

Stress Is Associated with Poor Outcome of Acute Treatment for Chronic Migraine: A Multicenter Study.

Background: Chronic migraine (CM) is associated with severe psychological symptoms and disabilities. Information on the relationship between stress and the outcomes of acute CM treatment is limited.

Methods: We evaluated the clinical presentation and stress levels of patients with CM who visited the neurology departments of 14 hospitals between September and December 2015.