Epilepsy Update 2025

Epilepsy care continues to evolve with updates in seizure classification, diagnostic technologies, and treatment strategies. There remains a need for education that strengthens clinician competence in applying contemporary seizure terminology, distinguishing epilepsy from psychogenic nonepileptic events, and recognizing epilepsy syndromes, including developmental epileptic encephalopathies. Improved understanding of EEG interpretation including phase reversal, periodic versus rhythmic patterns, and the ictal–interictal continuum supports more accurate diagnosis and clinical decision-making.

Current treatment practices require familiarity with an expanding range of antiseizure medications (ASMs), including newer agents with novel mechanisms of action and pharmaceutical cannabidiol formulations. Clinicians must also understand appropriate use of rescue therapies such as intranasal midazolam and intranasal diazepam for seizure clusters, as well as considerations surrounding medical marijuana use.

Many patients benefit from non-drug treatment pathways, including epilepsy surgery, stereo-EEG evaluation, ketogenic diet, and neuromodulation therapies such as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and responsive neurostimulation (RNS). Early identification of drug-resistant epilepsy, defined as failure of two appropriate ASMs, is essential to ensure timely referral for advanced therapies.

This initiative focuses on strengthening clinician knowledge across these areas to support informed treatment planning and improve the consistency and quality of contemporary epilepsy care.

Learning Objectives:

• Improve knowledge of current and emerging epilepsy therapies, including pharmacologic, device-based, and precision medicine approaches.
• Strengthen confidence in applying updated guidelines and evaluating new clinical evidence for individualized treatment planning.
• Enhance competence in integrating approved and emerging therapies into practice to optimize outcomes for patients with epilepsy.