What Do You Need to Know about Seizures and Epilepsy

Seizures and epilepsy remain some of the most complex and misunderstood conditions encountered in both primary and specialty care. This CME/CE course offers a foundational yet comprehensive exploration of seizure disorders, with a focus on accurate classification, diagnosis, and management strategies essential for delivering high-quality care.

Participants will gain a clear understanding of what constitutes a seizure, including the classification of motor and non-motor symptoms, and the importance of collecting detailed patient histories when symptoms are difficult to observe. The course distinguishes between isolated seizures and epilepsy as a chronic neurological condition, emphasizing long-term care planning and the impact of epilepsy syndromes on functional status and quality of life.

Learners will become adept at recognizing and defining epilepsy syndromes based on clinical features and EEG findings, enhancing their ability to tailor treatment strategies based on the specific syndrome, patient age, and comorbidities. The classification of epilepsy by etiology, site of origin, and syndromic patterns is covered in depth, providing clinicians with the tools to make informed treatment and prognostic decisions.

The course also focuses on guiding treatment decisions by highlighting the clinical relevance of seizure onset location, diagnostic imaging, and associated comorbidities such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment. These factors influence medication selection, surgical candidacy, and expectations for long-term outcomes.

By the end of this activity, physicians, nurses, and advanced practice providers will be equipped with the skills to accurately classify seizures, recognize syndromes, manage comorbidities, and deliver patient-centered epilepsy care that improves outcomes and quality of life.

Educational Objectives

• Define and classify seizures by motor and non-motor manifestations, and understand diagnostic challenges.
• Differentiate epilepsy from isolated seizures and explain how syndromes impact prognosis and quality of life.
• Recognize epilepsy syndromes based on clinical presentation and EEG findings to guide treatment selection.
• Classify epilepsy by etiology, seizure origin, and co-morbidities to support individualized care.
• Discuss clinical decision-making factors, including seizure focus, comorbidity management, and long-term prognosis in epilepsy patients.

Who Should Do This Course?

This course is designed for:

• Neurologists and Epileptologists providing long-term epilepsy care and diagnostic evaluation.
• Emergency Medicine Providers assessing new-onset or breakthrough seizures.
• Primary Care Providers, Family Medicine Practitioners, and Internists managing chronic epilepsy and co-morbidities.
• Pediatricians and Pediatric Neurologists caring for children with seizure disorders and epilepsy syndromes.
• Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and Nursing staff in neurology, critical care, and inpatient units.

It is particularly valuable for healthcare professionals working in neurocritical care, geriatrics, psychiatry, or neurosurgery who participate in the multidisciplinary care of epilepsy patients.

Did You Know?

• Epilepsy affects over 50 million people globally, with nearly 3.4 million in the United States. (WHO, 2022; CDC, 2023)
• More than 30% of epilepsy patients experience treatment-resistant seizures. (Epilepsia, 2018)
• Correct classification of epilepsy syndromes leads to improved treatment efficacy and prognosis. (Neurology, 2020)
• Focal seizures are more common than generalized seizures in adults and often respond well to targeted therapy. (Epilepsy Currents, 2021)
• Co-morbid mental health conditions affect over 50% of individuals with epilepsy, requiring integrated care approaches. (Lancet Neurology, 2019)