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Research Summary

Updated Guidelines for Treatment of Epilepsy in Patients Aimed at Improving Service, Standard of Care

Jessica Ganga

In February 2024, researchers representing the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) released an updated set of guidelines outlining recommended services, resources, and standards of care that epilepsy centers should provide in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

“Comprehensive epilepsy care requires infrastructure encompassing inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as organization of a multidisciplinary care team spanning both environments,” the authors wrote. “Patient-centered care begins with accurate diagnosis and pharmacologic treatment of seizures, epilepsy-related education, screening and/or management of comorbid conditions, and provision of psychosocial resources for patients and caregivers.”

According to the authors, epilepsy is one of the most chronic neurological conditions worldwide. In the United States, the estimated prevalence of persons with the disease is 3.4 million. “Epilepsy is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, decreased quality of life, and far-reaching socioeconomic implications,” the authors wrote.

A systematic literature search conducted by members of the NAEC identified 5937 studies relevant to their research objective. In total, 197 articles were retained for data extraction. The panel reached a consensus on 52 recommendations to include the updated set of guidelines that cover major topics in epilepsy care, including genetics, surgery, neuroimaging, and more.

For the first time, the set of guidelines recommended centers should:

  • offer patients the option to receive genetic testing and counseling.
  • provide further education and communication for patients.
  • give greater attention to patients, particularly children, with disabilities.
  • focus on multidisciplinary care by employing a care coordinator to aid with that.
  • provide mental health screenings as anxiety and mental health disorders are common among patients with epilepsy.
  • address any health care disparities and inequities.

“The fundamental purpose of these guidelines is to advance the quality of epilepsy care by outlining the essential services needed for a comprehensive epilepsy center and the optimal manner for their delivery,” the authors concluded. “The current recommendations reflect the contributions from a broad panel of expert opinions and a comprehensive review of existing data. They are designed to facilitate incorporation of future advances and research.”

 

Reference:
Lado FA, Ahrens SM, Riker E, et al. Guidelines for specialized epilepsy centers: executive summary of the report of the National Association of Epilepsy Centers guideline panel. Neurology. Published online February 27, 2024. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000208087