Released on: September 30, 2005
Expires on: September 30, 2007
Program Overview
First proposed in 1924, “epilepsy syndromes” were originally defined on the basis of clinical observation and patient histories. Recent advances in surgical techniques, functional and structural imaging, investigative procedures, and genetics have, in many cases, greatly improved our ability to localize seizure foci and understand the etiology of epilepsy symptoms.
This activity will present the case for the continuing relevance of epilepsy syndromes in the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. The presenters will show how epilepsy syndromes provide a larger context and diagnostic framework that is particularly pertinent in children.
Target Audience
This program is intended for clinicians who treat children and adolescents with seizures, including neurologists, pediatric neurologists, epileptologists, pediatric nurse practitioners, and pediatricians.
Format and Minimum System Requirements
This multimedia activity consists of slides accompanied by notes that highlight and expand upon key points in the lectures. Video clips will illustrate case-related issues. This material is delivered over the Internet, so an Internet connection must be maintained while viewing the activity. Participants complete the activity by viewing the slides and lecture notes in a window on their computer and completing an online posttest and evaluation questionnaire.
Participants who successfully complete the posttest and evaluation may print a certificate of completion from the screen.
The estimated time to complete this activity is 2 hours.
To view this activity, we recommend the following:
Windows
- Minimum 300 MHz Intel Pentium II processor or equivalent
- Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, or Windows XP
- 128 MB RAM
- Internet Explorer 5.x or later (6.0 for Windows XP), Netscape 7.x or later
- Flash 6 plug-in (or higher)
- High-speed Internet connection preferred
Macintosh
- Minimum 233 MHz PowerPC G3 processor
- Mac OS 9.x or Mac OS X 10.1.x or later
- 128 MB RAM
- Internet Explorer 5.x or later, Netscape 7.x or later, Safari 1.x
- Flash 6 plug-in (or higher)
- High-speed Internet connection preferred
Learning Objectives
After completing this activity, participants should be able to
- Describe the concept of the epilepsy syndrome
- Identify examples of the diagnostic utility of epilepsy syndromes, both as a whole and in their components
- Differentiate epilepsy syndromes associated with seizure types in infants (neonatal, infantile) and children (partial, generalized)
- Discuss appropriate evidence-based therapy for epilepsy syndromes of major interest in children and adolescents
Continuing Medical Education Credit
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) by the School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia Campus (VCU), and The BioContinuum Group, Inc. VCU is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Physicians may claim up to 2.0 hours in Type 1 or Type 2 CME on the Virginia Board of Medicine Continued Competency and Assessment Form required for renewal of an active medical license.
VCU designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.0 category 1 credits toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he or she actually spent in the activity.
Disclaimer
The content and views presented in this educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily reflect those of the sponsors. The speakers are expected to indicate any unlabeled use of products that may be mentioned in their presentations. Before prescribing any medication, primary references and full prescribing information should be consulted.
Patient Confidentiality
Video EEG footage of some patients appears throughout this program. In all cases, informed consent has been obtained from the patient or the patient's legal guardian.
Disclosures
In compliance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards for Commercial Support of CME, the VCU Professional Development and Evaluations Studies discloses all current relationships that program faculty report having with companies whose products they may discuss during their presentation.
These faculty members have disclosed relationships with commercial supporters of CME:
Blaise F. D. Bourgeois, MD
Grant/Research Support: Elan Pharmaceuticals; Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc
Consultant: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc
Michael Duchowny, MD
Grant/Research Support: UCB Pharma, Inc
Consultant: Elan Corporation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
Speakers' Bureau: GlaxoSmithKline; Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc
Carmela Tardo, MD
Grant/Research Support: UCB Pharma, Inc; GlaxoSmithKline
These faculty members report having no relationships with commercial supporters of CME:
Gregory L. Holmes, MD
Douglas R. Nordli, Jr, MD
Acknowledgments
This symposium is made possible by an unrestricted educational grant from UCB Pharma, Inc.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of our program advisor and scientific reviewer, John M. Pellock, MD, Professor and Chairman of the Division of Child Neurology at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Medical College of Virginia Campus in Richmond, Virginia.
VCU Privacy Policy
It is the policy of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) that personal information about citizens will be collected only to the extent necessary to provide the service or benefit desired; that only appropriate information will be collected; that the citizen shall understand the reason the information is collected and be able to examine their personal record which is maintained by a public body. The VCU Professional Development and Evaluations Studies does not share or sell information collected for this purpose to any other parties.
Virginia Commonwealth University
Medical College of Virginia Campus (VCU) and The BioContinuum Group, Inc.
educational grant from UCB Pharma, Inc.
