Epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, with a prevalence of 4-10/1000 and an incidence of 50-70/100,000 per year. It is often life-long, can appear at any age and includes a diverse group of neurological disorders, which present considerable challenges in diagnosis and management. Therefore, it is a condition that will frequently be seen by GPs and by a wide range of specialist physicians such as neurologists, psychiatrists, neurosurgeons, paediatricians, geriatricians as well as allied health professionals such as nurses (in particular epilepsy specialist nurses), EEG technicians, neuropsychologists and researchers with an interest in epilepsy. The diversity of epilepsy syndromes makes it difficult to achieve an adequate level of knowledge and expertise in their management. Epilepsy is a comprehensive handbook which guides the reader though all aspects of epilepsy, both practical and academic, covering all aspects of diagnosis and management of the patient with epilepsy in a clear, concise and practical fashion.The book appeals to a wide audience by teaching a simple but highly practical method to approaching the classification and diagnosis of epilepsy, and then provides patient-centred information on pharmacological and non-pharmacological management. This textbook is remarkable in providing in one volume both a potential teaching course sufficient to guide the novice from basic neuroscientific and clinical principles to a working knowledge of current epilepsy practise as well as a ready and comprehensive reference for the experienced clinical epileptologist. From the foreword by Dr Nicholas F Moran, MB ChB MRCP MSc, Consultant Neurologist, Kent & Canterbury Hospital, UK and Kings College Hospital, UK1. What is epilepsy?; 2. Mechanisms of epilepsy; 3a Types of epileptic seizures; 3b From seizures to syndromes; 3c Is it epilepsy; 4a What to do I do now; 4b Medical treatment of epilepsy; 4c Surgical treatment of epilepsy; 4d Women's issues; 5. Seizures under special circumstances; 6. Consequences of having epilepsy; 7. Heathcare and economics