Dissimilar Changes in Serum Cortisol after Epileptic and Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures: A Promising Biomarker in the Differential Diagnosis of Paroxysmal Events?

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy and psychiatric disorders. Epileptic seizures (ESs) and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNESs) are frequently differentially misdiagnosed. This study aimed to evaluate changes in serum cortisol and prolactin levels after ESs and PNESs as possible differential diagnostic biomarkers.

Maladaptive personality traits in patients with epilepsy and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological characteristics associated with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) in patients with epilepsy, with particular emphasis on the personality profile assessed from a dimensional perspective.

Methods: The cohort study included 77 consecutive inpatients with active epilepsy aged 36-55 years; 52 (67.5%) were female.

Post-stroke epilepsy: From clinical predictors to possible mechanisms.

Background: Stroke is the most common cause of newly diagnosed epilepsy in the elderly, ahead of degenerative disorders, brain tumors, and head trauma. Stroke accounts for 30-50% of unprovoked seizures in patients aged ≥ 60 years. This review discusses the current understanding of epidemiology, risk factors, mechanisms, prevention, and treatment opportunities for post-stroke epilepsy (PSE).

Post-stroke seizures, epilepsy, and mortality in a prospective hospital-based study.

Background And Objectives: Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is a significant concern in the elderly population, with stroke being a leading cause of epilepsy in this demographic. Several factors have shown consistent associations with the risk of developing PSE, including cortical lesions, initial stroke severity, younger age, and the occurrence of early seizures. The primary objectives of this study were two-fold: (1) to determine the incidence of PSE and (2) to identify the risk factors associated with PSE in a prospective cohort of post-stroke patients.

Reduced Levels of Lacrimal Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) in Patients with Focal Epilepsy and Focal Epilepsy with Comorbid Depression: A Biomarker Candidate.

Our previous studies showed that in patients with brain diseases, neurotrophic factors in lacrimal fluid (LF) may change more prominently than in blood serum (BS). Since glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is involved in the control of neuronal networks in an epileptic brain, we aimed to assess the GDNF levels in LF and BS as well as the BDNF and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical and inflammation indices in BS of patients with focal epilepsy (FE) and epilepsy and comorbid depression (FE + MDD) and to compare them with those of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls (HC). GDNF levels in BS were similar in patients and HC and higher in FE taking valproates.

[Structural brain changes in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and comorbid depression].

Objective: To assess the morphological features of the brain structures in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and comorbid depression.

Material And Methods: From 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2020, we studied 80 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (aged 18-60 years, 38 of whom had comorbid depression) and 48 healthy subjects of comparable age. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain was performed using the epilepsy protocol in a scanner with a magnetic field strength of 1.

Incidence, severity and outcomes of COVID-19 in age and gender matched adults with and without epilepsy in Moscow: A historical cohort study.

Objective: We hypothesized that PWE have an increased risk to acquire COVID-19. This was a historical cohort study to determine COVID-19 incidence, severity, mortality and risk factors in adults with active epilepsy (PWE) compared to residents of Moscow without epilepsy matched by age, gender, and region of residence - Moscow Community Comparisons (MCC).

Methods: Subjects were derived from a cohort of adult PWE and a cohort of age- and gender-matched population-based MCC without epilepsy identified in 2018.

[Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in autistic spectrum disorder].

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are paroxysmal conditions that resemble epileptic seizures, but are not accompanied by epileptiform activity on the electroencephalogram and are not associated with other neurological or somatic disorders. Unrecognized PNES places a heavy burden on the patient and family, and on the health care system. Among many possible combinations of PNES with psychiatric disorders, autistic spectrum disorders are the least studied.

Elevated Serum Cortisol Levels in Patients with Focal Epilepsy, Depression, and Comorbid Epilepsy and Depression.

Background: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, inflammatory processes and neurotrophic factor systems are involved in pathogenesis of both epilepsy and depressive disorders. The study aimed to explore these systems in patients with focal epilepsy (PWE, = 76), epilepsy and comorbid depression (PWCED = 48), and major depressive disorder (PWMDD, = 62) compared with healthy controls (HC, = 78).

Methods: Parameters of the HPA axis, neurotrophic factors, and TNF-α were measured in blood serum along with the hemogram.

Not always that EASI: Validating the Russian version of the epilepsy anxiety survey instrument and its brief counterpart.

Objective: To develop a Russian version of The Epilepsy Anxiety Survey Instrument (EASI) and assess its psychometric properties in a Russian sample of patients with epilepsy (PWE). To compare the brief version of EASI with the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) - the most common tool for a rapid anxiety screening.

Methods: The study sample consisted of 181 consecutive Russian-speaking PWE.

[Comorbidity of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures with mental disorders].

The present review discusses the comorbidity of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) with other mental disorders. Data on the prevalence of mood, anxiety, psychotic and personality disorders are presented. The role of traumatic experience in the development of PNES is described.

Differential diagnosis between epileptic and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures through conversational analysis: A blinded prospective study in the Russian language.

The current study examined the validity of conversational analysis (CA) in Russian patients with seizures, using a scoring table for the Simplified Linguistic Evaluation (SLE). The study sample was composed of 12 adult participants suffering either from epilepsy (ES) or psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) recruited in the Moscow Research and Clinical Center for Neuropsychiatry. Definitive diagnosis was established only after a habitual event was captured onvEEG.

Epilepsy and COVID-19: Management of Patients and Optimization of Antiepileptic Treatment in the Pandemic.

There are as yet no data pointing to any increase in the incidence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) or a more severe course of illness in patients with epilepsy. However, considering the high prevalence of epilepsy in patients over 60 years of age, the high comorbidity of epilepsy and a whole series of somatic diseases, and the need to maintain the opportunity for constant access to antiepileptic medications and follow-up of epilepsy patients, we can expect a whole set of difficulties in the management of these patients in the conditions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This article addresses the main principles of the management of epilepsy patients in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic: the need to follow regimes; preservation of regular and continuous taking of antiepileptic drugs, including consideration of interdrug interactions; and switching patients to i.

[Long-term postoperative outcomes in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy].

Unlabelled: Epilepsy surgery is effective in 30-82% of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. However, risk factors of unfavorable outcomes after epilepsy surgery require further study.

Objective: To evaluate risk factors of favorable and unfavorable long-term postoperative outcomes in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Validation of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) in Russian people with epilepsy.

Objective: To assess the capacity of Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) to detect anxiety disorders in a Russian sample of patients with epilepsy and to validate this instrument for rapid screening of anxiety in these patients.

Methods: Study included 233 patients with epilepsy, both inpatients and outpatients. For all patients Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview was conducted as a gold standard for diagnosis of mental disorders.

[Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures].

The review provides epidemiological data and discuss the associated burden of non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Data on the prevalence, socio-demographic and clinical risk factors for the development of PNES are presented. The hypotheses of the PNES origin, including the contribution of psychological trauma, are considered.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in blood serum and lacrimal fluid of patients with focal epilepsy.

Objective: To evaluate brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in blood serum (BS) and lacrimal fluid (LF) of people with epilepsy (PWE).

Methods: It was a case-control study of 72 consecutive patients with focal epilepsy (cases, Epilepsy group) and 60 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers (controls). Based on comorbid depression, two subgroups of PWE were formed.

Increased ciliary neurotrophic factor in blood serum and lacrimal fluid as a potential biomarkers of focal epilepsy.

Purpose: To evaluate ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) level in blood serum (BS) and lacrimal fluid (LF) of people with epilepsy (PWE).

Methods: A case-control study of 72 consecutive patients with focal epilepsy (cases, epilepsy group) and 60 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers (controls) was performed. Based on comorbid depression, two subgroups of PWE were formed.

Validation of the Russian version of neurological disorders depression inventory for epilepsy (NDDI-E).

Objective: To translate and validate the English version of the Neurologic Depression Disorders Inventory in Epilepsy (NDDI-E) into the Russian language as an instrument for rapid detection of major depressive episodes (MDE) for patients with epilepsy (PWE) from Russian Federation.

Methods: One hundred and 75 consecutive PWE were included in the study. All patients were assessed with Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI 6.

[Epilepsy and COVID-19: patient management and optimization of antiepileptic therapy during pandemic].

There is currently no data on the increased incidence of new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) or on the more severe course of the disease in patients with epilepsy. However, given the high prevalence of epilepsy among patients after age 60, an increased burden of somatic comorbidities among people with epilepsy, as well as the need of continuous access to antiepileptic drugs (AED) and care for patients with epilepsy, there are a number of important concerns in time of regarding the management of epilepsy during COVID-19 pandemic. The article discusses the main principles of epilepsy management during the COVID-19 pandemic: the need to comply with the regime; the importance of AED adherence, taking into account drug-drug interactions; switching patients to intravenous AED forms if necessary.

How to understand and address the cultural aspects and consequences of diagnosis of epilepsy, including stigma.

Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent serious neurological diseases. It is unique, being the only severe and disabling neurological disease that is fully treatable in the majority of cases, but on the other hand, associated with stigma, prejudice and discriminatory practices, which negatively impact people's everyday life in important areas, such as access to education, employment, marriage and social integration. For centuries, people with epilepsy (PWE) were stigmatized in all societies, with the consequences of prejudice and discrimination adding to the medical burden of the disease.

Prevalence of valproate prescriptions in women of childbearing age in certain regions of Russia.

Aim: The goal of this retrospective study was to analyze the proportion of women with epilepsy who had received valproate (VPA) prescriptions in certain regions of Russia in 2018.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was based on the IQVIA Russia longitudinal prescriptions (LRx) database and included all individuals with a documented epilepsy code (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision [ICD-10]: G.40) from 13 regions in Russia who had received at least one prescription of an antiepileptic drug (AED).