Epilepsy Talk

Top Psychiatric Hospitals in the U.S.

January 10, 2013
13 Comments

The U.S. News & World Report’s annual psychiatric hospital survey is valued for its integrity, its impartiality and the method by which each hospital is rated.

Criteria for the survey is: hospital reputation and satisfaction…details of the services provided…plus patients’ feedback about their experiences.

The 15 hospitals ranked in Psychiatry were named as among the best for challenging cases and procedures by at least 5 percent of the psychiatric specialists who responded to U.S. News surveys in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Another 167 hospitals received nominations from one or more physicians. They are listed alphabetically below the ranked hospitals.


Epilepsy — Preventing Depression — Project UPLIFT

December 18, 2012
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It’s called Project UPLIFT (Using Practice and Learning to Increase Favorable Thoughts). And eureka! It doesn’t include meds…

What’s more, this new study has proven successful in the prevention of depression in people diagnosed with epilepsy…


Perampanel — New Hope For Those With Uncontrollable Seizures

November 6, 2012
19 Comments

On October 24, 2012 the FDA approved Perampanel as an adjunct treatment for refractory partial-onset seizures in patients with epilepsy aged 12 years and older. A step forward for us all. Here’s why…


Charlie Rose: The Brain Series

July 9, 2012
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Presented here is a roundtable of the finest minds in science, co-hosted by Nobel Prize winner Eric Kandel. Together, Charlie Rose and Eric Kandel interview brain researchers, scientists and doctors, talking about different subjects of the brain. Among them are scientific discoveries, advances in technology and cutting-edge treatments.

However, these thirteen episodes, also go much deeper. They discuss perception, consciousness, free will, decision-making, cognition, creativity, morality, emotion and memory.


2012 Most Recent Epilepsy Statistics

June 27, 2012
19 Comments

These numbers may scare you, depress you, or stir you into action. Whatever your reaction, they’re inconvertibility true. From the Institute of Medicine, via the Epilepsy Therapy Project itself…


Children’s Brain Surgery…Preparing YOUR Child…

April 22, 2012
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There is no “welcome” sign to the world of childhood brain surgery. And the resulting combination of fear, shock, and pain is almost too much to bear.

No amount of preparation or knowledge can help to ease or minimize the situation.

But preparing a child for surgery emotionally, is one of the most important things you can do. Surgery, without proper explanations and preparation, can traumatize a child…


For Refractory Epilepsy — Two AEDs and You’re Home Free!

January 8, 2012
6 Comments

A recent University of Washington report, published in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology, found a combination of two common drugs, lamotrigine and valproate, is more effective in treating refractory epilepsy than other anti-epileptic regimens.

In a large-scale retrospective study of patients with very difficult-to-control epilepsy, researchers discovered that out of the 32 drug combinations studied, only the lamotrigine/valproate treatment regimen significantly decreased seizure frequency in this group. This specific combination reduced seizure frequency by about half, on average, compared to other regimens.


Autistic Children May Have Too Many Brain Cells

December 4, 2011
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TUESDAY, Nov. 8 (HealthDay News) — The brains of autistic children have far more neurons in the prefrontal cortex than the brains of kids without autism, finds a new study that could advance research into the disorder.

“For the first time, we have the potential to understand why autism gets started,” said study author Eric Courchesne, a professor of neurosciences at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and director of the Autism Center of Excellence.

“Creating brains cells and the correct number of brain cells is absolutely fundamental to building the brain,” said Courchesne. “If there is an excess number of neurons, there must be a negative consequence to that in the way the brain gets wired or organized.”


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Increased Birth Defect Risks in Two FDA-Approved Epilepsy Medications

October 20, 2011
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Two epilepsy drugs – Lamictal and Keppra – which are currently listed in category C may be dangerous to a fetus and should be listed in category D, according to new data. The difference between the categories is that D shows evidence of risk, but the benefits outweigh the risks…


Kiss Colonoscopies Good-Bye?

September 11, 2011
8 Comments

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. and more than half of over 80 million people over the age of 50 have never been screened.

But now there’s good news for everyone who dreads their mandatory colonoscopy. (Like me.)

It’s a new NONINVASIVE DNA colon cancer screening test that should be available to the general public in 20012!


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    About the author

    Phylis Feiner Johnson

    Phylis Feiner Johnson

    I've been a professional copywriter for over 35 years. I also had epilepsy for decades. My mission is advocacy; to increase education, awareness and funding for epilepsy research. Together, we can make a huge difference. If not changing the world, at least helping each other, with wisdom, compassion and sharing.

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