Epilepsy is the commonest
serious neurological disorder; prevalence
figures ranging from 2 to 5 per thousand
people. The World Epilepsy Day Workshop,
held on 13th and 14th November2004, was
aimed at providing in-depth information
about the complexities of epilepsy and its
management.
A preliminary
introduction to epilepsy was followed by
a panel discussion on Living With Epilepsy.
The discussion which was open to lay people
had neurologists, social workers, epilepsy
counselors and cognitive behavior therapists
providing their views on daily life matters
such as treatment, employment, pregnancy
and marriage in order to lead a healthy
and effective life. Prof Steve Schachter
brought the first day to a close with an
enlightening enumeration of Novel Therapies
for Epilepsy: The Importance of Being Earnest,
The 1st Shri. Soundararajan Endowment Lecture.
The second
day had many academic delights delivered
by eminent epileptologists including a graphic
description of the conundrums of epilepsy,
the mechanisms of epilepsy, phenomenology,
classification and diagnosis of epilepsy,
differential diagnoses of epilepsy (Is it
a fit, faint or funny turn?) and the treatment
of epilepsy. An approach to special groups
such as women, children and mental retardation
was followed by a panel discussion on the
establishment of a comprehensive epilepsy
care centre.
The
faculty comprised of eminent neurologists
from all over India, Prof. Krishnamoorthy
Srinivas Dr. V Jayakumar, Prof. SSK Iyer,
Prof. P Satishchandra, Dr. K Sashikala,
Dr. Prithika Chary, experienced social workers,
counselors and therapists, Ms. V Shanthini,
Mrs. S Mukund, Mr. Ravi Samuel, with Prof
E.S.Krishnamoorthy and Prof Steve Schachter
forming the international faculty.
