Κέντρο Επιληψίας

The term “Epilepsy” is derived from a Greek verb epilambanein  (επιλαμβάνειν), meaning to seize, take hold of, or attack. Epilepsy therefore means “a condition of being taken over, seized, or attacked.” People in the Homeric Era used to believe that Epilepsy was induced by gods, and it is therefore a sacred disease. Hippocrates discounted the view that epilepsy is a sacred disease, stating that he did not believe that Epilepsy is any more divine or sacred than any other disease, but just as other diseases, has a nature from which it arises. Specifically, he believed epilepsy to be a disease of the brain. Today, we have proven Epilepsy to be a brain disorder, characterized by repeated unprovoked epileptic seizures that arise from an abnormal hypersynchronous and sustained neuronal excitability.​

Depending on the part of the brain affected, a person can experience different types of seizures. Seizures involving the sensory part of the brain give rise to a sensation, such as numbing or tingling of a body part, or the experience of a non-existent smell or vision. If involving the motor part of the brain, involuntary movements present themselves, from persistent focal twitching to generalized muscle spasms with loss of consciousness. ​

Epilepsy can present at any age, but is more common in early childhood and late adulthood. Approximately 5-10% of the general population will have a single epileptic seizure during their life. In most cases, however, this won’t be associated with repeated attacks that define Epilepsy and only 1% of patients will be diagnosed with Epilepsy in the future.​

​There are different causes leading to Epilepsy making each person unique in their assessment and management. Some forms of epilepsy are genetically determined while others are acquired (e.g., epilepsy after traumatic brain injury or stroke), whereas others are related to pre-existing neurological disorders (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease).

The management of epilepsy involves 3 steps:​

• Description (phenotyping) of recurrent epileptic seizures: Clinicians first ask a patient to describe what they experienced during an episode or ask observers to describe what they saw. In some cases, videos taken by bystanders are available and are very helpful. To establish an accurate diagnosis and properly classify seizures (e.g., generalized vs. focal seizures) it is important that patients provide a clear description of what they experienced before, during and after an event. ​

• Clinical examination and workup​

• Establishing a diagnosis, providing a prognosis and recommending and pursuing treatment options​

Therapeutic protocols at the Epilepsy Center follow a multidisciplinary approach, with pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, technological, and social interventions, because for most patients there are multiple factors contributing to symptoms and placing them at risk for worse future outcomes. Such comprehensive protocols maximize benefit and minimize cost by assessing both the person and the environment they live in. ​

Not all epileptic seizures need to be treated. In many cases treating the underlying condition will sufficiently lead to improvement in seizure frequency and severity. Even more, certain epileptic syndromes have tend to be self-limited and resolve after a certain age (e.g., idiopathic epileptic syndrome of childhood). In these cases a close follow up may be the only necessary intervention to be pursued. In the end, the decision on what therapeutic approaches to pursue are decided during discussions between the patient and their Epilepsy specialist, considering patient needs while respecting their autonomy.

​The therapeutic protocols in epilepsy include medications, non-pharmacological non-invasive treatments, and surgical interventions.​