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Principles of therapy in the epilepsies

  • Chapter
A Clinical Guide to Epileptic Syndromes and their Treatment

Abstract

The traditional aim of therapy in epilepsies is total freedom from seizures with no clinically significant adverse effects. This has now been broadened to include optimal outcomes of health-related quality of life with regard to physical, mental, educational, social and psychological functioning of the patient. The mainstay of treatment is usually with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) in continuous prophylactic schemes. However, AEDs are ineffective for about 20% of patients. These patients are candidates for neuro surgical interventions, other pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatments.

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Panayiotopoulos, C.P. (2010). Principles of therapy in the epilepsies. In: A Clinical Guide to Epileptic Syndromes and their Treatment. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-644-5_7

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