For 2.7 million Americans with epilepsy, seizures are not the only concern. People with epilepsy frequently face mood and behavior challenges and side effects from their medications, such as sleep and cognition problems. And, in many instances, these issues are not getting the attention warranted during visits with neurologists, according to a study supported by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics®, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Today at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Seattle, new insights from an in-office linguistic study of neurologists identified gaps in communication between physicians and their epilepsy patients. These findings revealed the need for more thorough conversations about mood and behavior issues and side effects of epilepsy medications between neurologists and their patients.
Fits | Epilepsy | Convulsions - Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment FAQs
Fits or convulsions or Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent, involuntary seizures and is described as a chronic neurological disorder
Fits or convulsions or Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent, involuntary seizures and is described as a chronic neurological disorder
"The findings are important to note because epilepsy often involves complex treatment issues that extend beyond seizure control," said Frank Gilliam, MD, study author and Director of Neurology at Geisinger Health System in Pennsylvania. "All physicians treating epilepsy patients should ask targeted questions about these topics during office visits. Not knowing when patients are struggling with these issues impacts our ability to help people with epilepsy achieve truly successful outcomes."
*Dr. Frank Gilliam is a paid consultant for Ortho-McNeil Neurologics®.
Epilepsy and Slides
Epilepsy is a medical condition where the brain cells fire abnormal electrical signals that physically manifests as a ‘Seizure’. There should be two or more seizures before the term epilepsy should be used.
Epilepsy is a medical condition where the brain cells fire abnormal electrical signals that physically manifests as a ‘Seizure’. There should be two or more seizures before the term epilepsy should be used.
-Discussions of mood- and behavior-related topics occurred in only 13 of 60 visits (22%)
-34 of 60 patients (57%) reported mood- and behavior-related problems postvisit that physicians did not, including irritability, depression, anxiety and hyperactivity
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Childhood Epilepsy - Introduction
Childhood epilepsy is a common cause of neurological morbidity. However it represents only a symptom complex, the disease and the etiological process of which needs to be defined.
Childhood epilepsy is a common cause of neurological morbidity. However it represents only a symptom complex, the disease and the etiological process of which needs to be defined.
-Side effects were assessed by neurologists in only 44 of 59 (75%) visits with patients already taking antiepileptic medications
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Studies Uncover High, Often Overlooked Costs Linked With Epilepsy
Employees with epilepsy cost healthcare insurers and employers significantly more than those without the condition, according to findings from two studies presented here today at the
Employees with epilepsy cost healthcare insurers and employers significantly more than those without the condition, according to findings from two studies presented here today at the
-When asked postvisit, 33 percent of neurologists and patients did not agree on what side effects the patient actually was experiencing
-The presence of a robust side effect discussion did not dramatically affect visit length
To build on these findings, Ortho-McNeil Neurologics® is now sponsoring a study examining new communication strategies and tools that may help improve dialogue between neurologists and their patients. Findings from this study are anticipated later this year.
About the Suboptimal Dialogue Study
The study and poster were sponsored by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics®. MBS/Vox, a research consultancy in Parsippany, NJ that studies and analyzes how patients and physicians interact, conducted the study. According to the study, no prior epilepsy communication research has analyzed actual in-office discussions. Researchers have relied on self-reported measures such as questionnaires or surveys.
Letters of invitation were mailed to 1,493 community based neurologists. Of these, 20 met screening criteria and agreed to participate. Patients were recruited from regularly scheduled office visits. Sixty visits were audio- and video-recorded. Postvisit interviews were conducted separately with physicians and patients to capture the intent and comprehension of each. All dialogue components were transcribed, analyzed and correlated using validated sociolinguistic models.
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