Young people diagnosed with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) years ago - How are they now?

Background: Up to 30% of patients referred to epilepsy centres for drug-resistant epilepsy turn out to have psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Patients with PNES are a very heterogeneous population with large differences in regard to underlying causes, seizures severity, and impact on quality of life. There is limited knowledge regarding the long-term seizure prognosis of youth with PNES and its influential factors.

Epilepsy professionals' views on sudden unexpected death in epilepsy counselling: A tale of two countries.

Background And Purpose: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a leading cause of epilepsy mortality. All international guidance strongly advocates for clinicians working with people with epilepsy (PWE) to discuss SUDEP. Clinician views working with PWE in the UK and Norway on SUDEP counselling are compared.

Strange episodes during sleep - epilepsy or parasomnia?

In some forms of epilepsy, the seizures occur almost exclusively during sleep. This is particularly the case with hypermotor frontal lobe seizures. Clinically it can be difficult to distinguish such seizures from parasomnias and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

Reduced Interhemispheric Coherence and Cognition in Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)-A Quantitative EEG Study.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging in fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) children showed altered connectivity, suggesting underlying deficits in networks, which may be related to cognitive outcome. Functional connectivity has been of interest in neurophysiological research with quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) as useful tool for measuring pathology, not detectable by normal EEG. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the EEG interhemispheric coherence (ICoh) in children diagnosed with FASD compared with healthy controls and to relate the results to cognitive scores.

Norwegian population-based study of effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies.

Objective: Evaluate the long-term efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) compared with epilepsy patients without intellectual disability (ID).

Methods: Long-term outcomes from a Norwegian VNS quality registry are reported in 105 patients with DEEs (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome [LGS] n = 62; Dravet n = 16; Rett n = 9; other syndromes n = 18) were compared with 212 epilepsy patients without ID, with median follow-up of 88 and 72 months, respectively. Total seizure reduction was evaluated at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 60 months.

Frequency of epilepsy and pathological EEG findings in a Norwegian sample of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Impact on cognition and adaptive functioning.

Background: Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) comprises a combination of developmental, cognitive, and behavioral disabilities that occur in children exposed to alcohol prenatally. A higher prevalence of epilepsy and pathological electroencephalographic (EEG) features have also been reported in individuals with FASD. We examined the frequency of epilepsy, pathological EEG findings, and their implications for cognitive and adaptive functioning in children with FASD.

Temporal lobe epilepsy.

The temporal lobes are the part of the brain most likely to give rise to epileptic seizures. Seizures originating in the temporal lobes vary greatly in character; some may be so unusual that they are not even recognised as epileptic. For patients who have been diagnosed with hippocampal sclerosis and whose seizures cannot be controlled with drugs, epilepsy surgery may be a good treatment option.

Use of screening tools to assess comorbidities and adverse events in patients with epilepsy. A European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (EpiCARE) survey.

Purpose: As comorbidities can affect treatment decisions, quality of life, and prognosis in epilepsy, it is important that they are detected and addressed as soon as possible. Screening tools can help by rapidly assessing various additional challenges in epilepsy.

Methods: To map the use and perceived benefit of different screening instruments for quality of life, psychiatric comorbidity, and cognition, along with side effects from anti-seizure medication in Europe, we sent an online questionnaire to dedicated epilepsy centres departments within the European Reference Network for Rare and Complex Epilepsies (EpiCARE).

Norwegian population-based study of long-term effects, safety, and predictors of response of vagus nerve stimulation treatment in drug-resistant epilepsy: The NORPulse study.

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) over time, and to determine which patient groups derive the most benefit.

Methods: Long-term outcomes are reported in 436 epilepsy patients from a VNS quality registry (52.8% adults, 47.

Feasibility of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation in treatment of drug resistant epilepsy: A multicenter prospective study.

Background: Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) is a new non-invasive technique developed as treatment option for drug resistant epilepsy. A few studies have been carried out showing that the efficacy and tolerability of ta-VNS is comparable with traditional implanted VNS but the feasibility of the therapy has been poorly described. This study aimed to explore potential clinical benefits of ta-VNS and to evaluate adaptation, compliance, as well as the usability of the device from a service design perspective.

Epilepsy in Sero-Positive Patients From Northern Uganda-Clinical, EEG and Brain Imaging Features.

Globally, epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disorder. The incidence in sub-Saharan Africa is 2-3 times higher than that in high income countries. Infection by may be an underlying risk factor for the high burden and based upon epidemiological associations, has been proposed to cause a group of disorders- associated epilepsies (OAE) like nodding syndrome (NS).

People with epilepsy still feel stigmatized.

Objectives: Those affected with epilepsy have long been subject to stigmatization. This may have manifold negative effects, for example social isolation, low self-esteem, reduced quality of life and worsening of seizures. In Norway educational programs have been arranged at the National Centre for Epilepsy, aiming at reducing stigma and shame associated with epilepsy, and thereby increase the quality of life for those affected and their families.

Patient satisfaction with information provided by epilepsy specialist nurses: Results of an online survey.

The aim of this study was to investigate the perspective of Norwegian patients with epilepsy regarding the information that they have received about epilepsy-related issues and to determine whether there was a difference in information received between those who had been followed up by an epilepsy specialist nurse (ESN) and those who had not. Further, were there differences regarding satisfaction with the information between the two groups? We conducted an online survey in close collaboration with the Norwegian Epilepsy Association. A total of 1859 respondents (1182 patients with epilepsy and 677 carers for patients with epilepsy) completed a web-based questionnaire.

EEG in fitness to drive evaluations in people with epilepsy - Considerable variations across Europe.

Purpose: Epilepsy patients consider driving issues to be one of their most serious concerns. Ideally, decisions regarding fitness to drive should be based upon thorough evaluations by specialists in epilepsy care. In 2009, an EU directive was published aiming to harmonize evaluation practices within European countries, but, despite these recommendations, whether all epileptologists use the same criteria is unclear.

How often do doctors discuss drug withdrawal with their seizure-free patients with epilepsy?

Among patients with epilepsy, almost 70% become seizure-free with the current antiseizure drugs (ASDs) within 20 years following seizure onset. Of those who have been seizure-free for many years, around 70% remain seizure-free after withdrawal of ASDs. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which seizure-free patients with epilepsy in Norway discuss drug discontinuation with their physician.

Refractory epilepsy and nonadherence to drug treatment.

In patients with epilepsy, nonadherence to agreed antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment may result in seizure relapse, and at worst sudden unexpected death. The aim of this study was to examine the extent of both unintentional and intentional nonadherence among Norwegian patients with refractory epilepsy and try to identify possible risk factors. At the National Centre for Epilepsy in Norway, 333 consecutive adult in- and outpatients with refractory epilepsy participated in an anonymous survey about adherence to drug treatment.

Sexual dysfunction in people with epilepsy.

Sexual dysfunction is a common comorbidity in people with epilepsy (PWE) that adversely affects their quality of life. Nearly one-half of men and women with epilepsy have sexual dysfunction, but in the majority, this often goes unnoticed. The wide variation in the reported prevalence of sexual dysfunction in PWE is due to the significant heterogeneity among the studies with regard to patient population, type and severity of epilepsy, number and type of antiseizure drugs (ASDs) used, and the tools used for assessing sexual dysfunction.

Sexual function in people with epilepsy: Similarities and differences with the general population.

Objective: The potential impact of epilepsy on sexual function is important for patient welfare, but often neglected. This study explored the occurrences of different sexual problems in patients with both well-controlled and mostly refractory epilepsy, and compared these with equivalent information from the general population.

Methods: Between 2015 and 2017, a total of 221 adult inpatients and outpatients, mostly with intractable epilepsy, at the National Centre for Epilepsy in Norway, and 78 outpatients with well-controlled epilepsy at Lillehammer hospital participated in a questionnaire survey on sexual function.