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Nonpharmacologic Treatments for Epilepsy

Activity Provided by the American Epilepsy Society in conjunction with Dartmouth Health and the Managing Epilepsy Well Network.
Release Date: 09/29/2023
Expiration Date: 09/29/2026


This course, developed for the non-epilepsy specialist healthcare provider, includes content that focuses on medication management for people with epilepsy.

About 3.4 million people in the United States live with active epilepsy. Epilepsy is a complex spectrum of disorders characterized by recurrent seizures. Seizures are not the only challenge that people with epilepsy face, as they are often confronted with complex medication regimens, lifestyle adjustments, co-morbid disease, disability, under- or unemployment, limited access to transportation, and stigma. This course will focus on the advances in non-pharmacologic management of epilepsy, including dietary therapies, sEEG coverage in infants, and surgical and stimulation treatment options.

Some content was originally presented at the American Epilepsy Society Annual Meeting in December 2022.

This course is supported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $1,500,000 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify the role for invasive surgical evaluation in young
    children with epilepsy
  • Discuss surgical and neurostimulation treatment options for people with epilepsy
  • Describe the role of dietary therapies in the management of epilepsy

Faculty
Rohini Coorg, MD
Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital

Elaine Seto, MD, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital

Brian Lundstrom, MD, PhD
Mayo Clinic

Zahava Turner, RD, CSP, LDN
John Freeman Epilepsy Center at The Johns Hopkins University

Disclosure Policy
It is the policy of the American Epilepsy Society (AES) to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor. All individuals involved in the selection, development and presentation of content are required to disclose any real or apparent conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest will be resolved by AES prior to an educational activity being delivered to learners.

Planning Committee, Faculty, Reviewers' Disclosures of Financial Relationships
In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, the AES requires that any person who is in a position to control content of a CME activity must disclose all relevant financial relationships that they have with an ineligible company. Unless otherwise indicated (*), none of the planners or faculty of this activity have any financial relationships to disclose. All relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies have been mitigated. The following individuals contributed to this activity’s content. Update for all courses this year.

Planners and Faculty
Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos, MD, MPH, MSc
Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College

Barbara Jobst, MD, Dr. Med, FAES, FAAN*
Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College
Contract Research: Neuropace, Inc.

Carly R. Sykes, MPH
Department of Neurology, Dartmouth Health

Andrea Bernasconi, MD
McConnell Brain Imaging Centre

Jorge Burneo, MD, MPH, FAAN, FAES*
Western University
Grant: Sunovion Canada, Eisai

Kelly Conner, PhD, MMSc, MS, PA-C*
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Consultant: Neurelis, SK Life Science, Inc.

Chris Dulla, PhD
Tufts University School of Medicine

Elizabeth Felton, MD, PhD
UW Health

Alicia Goldman, MD, PhD, FAES
Baylor College of Medicine

Zachary Grinspan, MD, FAES
Weill Cornell Medical College

Shanna Guilfoyle, PhD, FAES
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Robert E. Hogan, MD, FAAN, FAES*
Washington University in St. Louis
Contractor: Biogen, Inc., Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Cerevel Therapeutics, Engage Therapeutics, Neurelis Inc.; Consultant: Neurelis Inc.

Kelly Knupp, MD, FAES*
University of Colorado
Consultant: Zogenix, Biodex, Epygenix; Contractor: GW Pharmaceuticals, Epygenix

Suzette LaRoche, MD, FAES
University of North Carolina

Judy Liu, MD, PhD
Brown University

Joaquin Lugo, PhD, FAES
Baylor University

Jamie Maguire, PhD
Tufts University School of Medicine

Mohamad Mikati, MD, FAES
Duke University Medical Center

Dean Naritoku, MD, FAES*
University of South Alabama
Consultant: SK Life; Contractor: Eisai, Inc., SK Life, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Madonna Plueger, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC
Barrow Neurological Institute

Kinshuk Sahaya, MD, FAES
Minnesota Epilepsy Group

Sarah Schmitt, MD, FAES
Medical University of South Carolina

Elaine Seto, MD, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine

Ignacio Valencia, MD, FAES*
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Contract Research (PI): UCB SA

Daniel Weber, DO, FAES*
St. Louis University
Consultant: SK Life Science Inc; Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.


CME Reviewers
Jaime Twanow
Shahram Izadyar

American Epilepsy Society Staff Planners
Alexis Griffith, MPH
American Epilepsy Society

Shawna Strickland, PhD, CAE, RRT, FAARC
American Epilepsy Society

Anne Gramiak, MPH, MSLOC
American Epilepsy Society

Cristina Graham, BS
American Epilepsy Society

Melissa Ball, MS, CAE, PMP
American Epilepsy Society

Resolution of Conflicts of Interest
It is the policy of the American Epilepsy Society to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor. All persons involved in the selection, development and presentation of content are required to disclose any real or apparent conflicts of interest. In accordance with the ACCME Standards of Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, the AES implemented the mechanisms of prospective peer review of this CME activity, to identify and resolve any conflicts. Additionally, the content of this activity is based on the best available evidence.

Accreditation
The American Epilepsy Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

For more information regarding contact hours, please call American Epilepsy Society 312.883.3800 or education@aesnet.org.

Credit Designation
The American Epilepsy Society designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.75
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CME Certificate
To receive credit for your participation in this activity, please complete the evaluation survey provided at the conclusion of the activity.

Unapproved Use Disclosure
The American Epilepsy Society requires CME authors to disclose to learners when products or procedures being discussed are off-label, unlabeled, experimental, and/or investigational (not FDA approved); and any limitations on the information that is presented, such as data that are preliminary or that represent ongoing research, interim analyses, and/or unsupported opinion. This information is intended solely for continuing medical education and is not intended to promote off-label use of these medications. If you have questions, contact the medical affairs department of the manufacturer for the most recent prescribing information. Information about pharmaceutical agents/devices that is outside of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved labeling may be contained in this activity.

Disclaimer
This CME activity is for educational purposes only and does not constitute the opinion or endorsement of, or promotion by, the American Epilepsy Society. Reasonable efforts have been taken to present educational subject matter in a balanced, unbiased fashion, and in compliance with regulatory requirements. However, each activity participant must always use his or her own personal and professional judgment when considering further application of this information, particularly as it may relate to patient diagnostic or treatment decisions including, without limitation, FDA-approved uses and any off-label, investigational and/or experimental uses.