Epilepsy

This subspecialty concerns the diagnosis and management of epileptic seizures and epilepsy, as well as psychogenic non-epileptic events (also known as non-epileptic attacks, pseudoseizures or dissociative seizures) and other seizure mimics.

Key clinical and research areas within epilepsy include electroencephalography (EEG)/video-EEG telemetry and other neurophysiological investigations (e.g., evoked potientials, transcranial magnetic stimulation), brain imaging, genetics, pharmacological treatment with anti-seizure medications (ASMs), resective epilepsy surgery, neurostimulation devices, dietary therapies, neuropsychology, neuropsychiatry, specific issues relating to women and girls with epilepsy, status epilepticus, acute symptomatic seizures, autoimmune-associated epilepsy, epileptogenesis, sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), epilepsy comorbidities, epidemiology, healthcare organisation and delivery, and driving regulations.

Furthermore, presurgical evaluation in drug-refractory epilepsy with intracranial electrodes offers a window to brain research by recording from small areas of cortex or even single neurons. Next to monitoring epileptic activity, physiological and cognitive processes can be studied within the human brain.

The epilepsy SP actively promotes and supports epilepsy-related issues as well as educational and scientific activities within the framework of EAN.

The panel substantially contributes to the Scientific Programme at EAN congresses and other EAN educational activites. It develops clinical guidelines in collaboration with other European medical associations, including ILAE-Europe, European Academy of Nuclear Medicine, the European Sleep Research Society and the European Paediatric Neurology Society.

Group members, including the RRFS members, are strongly encouraged to engage in the activities promoted by the panel and to contribute to the sharing of advances in the field of epilepsy via the Breaking News and Neurology Update sections of the EAN website, and to engage in the activities promoted by the panel.

The panel meets during the EAN congress and has currently 4 working groups.