Practice Tools

Providing high-quality care can be complex. The following resources are clinical practice tools approved by various committees of the American Epilepsy Society to facilitate high-quality care. For definitions for the development of AES documents such as Practice Tools, Position Statements, Guidelines, Checklists, Quality Indicators, Expert Consensus Statements, and Review Articles, review the Approved Terminology for AES Resource Documents (2012).

Clinical Practice Tools

Information to help clinicians caring for people with epilepsy. Information in the tool is designed to help you do your job, not tell you what to do. These tools are not considered to be 'standard of care' or guidelines.

PNES Clinician Information Sheet (2016)

Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES) are episodic changes in behavior that resemble epileptic seizures but are not associated with abnormal brain electrical discharges. PNES are associated with underlying psychological stressors and are classified as a conversion disorder.

Cognitive Behavior Tools

Discussion guides for cognitive and behavioral effects of epilepsy in adults and children/adolescents.

Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care Tools (Planning for independence when independence is unlikely, 2013)

These two practice tools were developed for adolescent epilepsy patients, with a separate version for those with significant developmental disability. The tools are intended for clinicians to use in developing and implementing a process for the successful transition of an adolescent epilepsy patient into adult epilepsy care.

FAQs for Epilepsy Monitoring Units (Reviewed 2013)

Common questions asked by patients, referring clinicians, and family members about the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU).

Resources for Clinicians

Mental Health Educational Resources for Clinicians

These quick reference resources were developed by the AES Psychosocial Comorbidities and Interprofessional Care Committees to promote screening and education to address mental health symptoms in persons with epilepsy. They were created for clinicians as quick resources for addressing the mental health of epilepsy patients during a routine medical visit.

Anxiety:

The Anxiety Information Sheets are brief reference documents outlining the features, causes, diagnosis and treatment approach for anxiety disorders in people with epilepsy. Separate pediatric and adult handouts are available, outlining age-appropriate features and approaches.

Depression:

The Depression handouts were created as quick reference resource tools for epilepsy healthcare clinicians and cover features of depression, epidemiology, diagnostic considerations, treatments, and resources for persons with epilepsy. There is an adult and a pediatric version of the handout.

Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES) for Mental Health Professionals:

This information sheet is intended to educate mental health providers on the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of PNES. Tips for managing PNES episodes in a mental health office and in daily life are provided, along with additional resources.

It may be beneficial for epilepsy clinicians to share this document with mental health providers upon referral for PNES treatment.

PNES for Mental Health Professionals

Screening for Psychosocial Comorbidities:

These documents contain quick screening questions for use in routine clinic visits to assess cognition, social problems and mental health. Suggestions for further screening or next steps accompany each question. Separate adult and pediatric screeners provide age-appropriate questions and suggestions for further screening.

Managing Epilepsy Well

The MEW Network conducts research together with community leaders (such as local Epilepsy Foundation affiliates), and shares findings with the epilepsy community. Its goal is to develop and test self-management programs and tools for people with epilepsy and healthcare providers.
AES is a supporting member of the MEW Network.

Evidence-based Epilepsy Self Management programs from the MEW Network include these and more:

Project UPLIFT is an evidence-based program that prevents or treats depression symptoms in people with epilepsy. The MEW Network offers training for mental health professionals.
PEARLS (Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives) is a highly effective, science-based program designed to reduce depression and improve quality of life in adults with epilepsy.

Epilepsy Quality Measures (2012)

An overview of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) approval of quality measures for epilepsy.

Epilepsy and Women

Studies in and information for reproductive-aged women with Epilepsy

Physician Discussion Tool (2008)

Annual AES Practice Management Course

Handouts from the Practice Management Course during the AES Annual Meeting are available, for recordings of the presentations, visit the Epilepsy Learning Institute.

Information about Medications that can Affect Epilepsy Management

FDA News and Drug Alerts

Medication List that can Provoke Seizures - Epilepsy Therapy Project (2009)