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Plenary II: The Postictal and Interictal Periods: What Are We Missing?

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Program Length: 90 minutes
Non Credit

Overview

Clinical epilepsy has traditionally focused on "the seizure"as the measure of morbidity. Yet even for patients with refractory epilepsy,seizures occupy a tiny fraction of their lives. This course will address thecognitive (e.g., memory, attention), behavioral (e.g., depression, psychosis),physical (e.g., headache) and electrophysiological features of the postictaland interictal states in children and adults. Lessons from animal models ofepilepsy help to understand the pathophysiology of these changes. The clinicalspectrum as well as the frequency and severity of symptoms outside the ictalperiod will be reviewed. Diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategieswill be discussed. 

Learner Outcomes

  • Improvedability to recognize and assess interictal cognitive and behavior complicationsin patients with epilepsy so that they are evaluated and treated appropriately
  • Increasethe detection of postictal cognitive and behavioral complications in patientswith epilepsy so that they are addressed in planning treatment
  • Usingincreased understanding pathophysiology of interictal and postictal cognitiveand behavior problems in animal models, apply this understanding of underlyingmechanisms to patients and plan appropriate interventions. 

Target Audience

Neurologists, nurses, neurophysiologists, behavioralscientists and neuroscientists

Program

Co-Chairs: Orrin Devinsky, M.D. and Bruce P. Hermann, Ph.D.

Opening Remarks
Orrin Devinsky, M.D.

The Role of Interictal Activity on Cognitive and BehavioralFunction
Robert S. Fisher, M.D., Ph.D.

What Can Animals Teach Us About Postictal and InterictalBehavior?
Gregory L. Holmes, M.D.

Does Postictal Behavior Predict Interictal Behavior?
Orrin Devinsky, M.D.

Postictal Symptoms: Diagnosis and Treatment
Siddhu Nadkarni, M.D.