Epilepsy and lockdown: A survey of patients normally attending a Spanish centre.

BACKGROUND: Lockdown due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic became a challenge to maintain care for patients with epilepsy; we aimed to find out how the pandemic affected them. METHODS: We sent an online 22-item questionnaire to patients from our outpatient clinic, a reference centre in Spain for drug-resistant epilepsy, inquiring about the effects of lockdown, from March to May 2020. RESULTS: We sent the survey to 627 patients; 312 (58% women) sent a complete response and were included. Of all respondents, 57% took >2 antiseizure medications. One-third of respondents (29%) declared an associated cognitive or motor disability. A minority had confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2 (1.92%). Seizure frequency remained like usual in 56% of patients, while 31.2% reported an increase. Less than 10% needed emergent assistance. Almost half reported anxiety or depression, and 25% increased behavioural disorders. Mood (F: 5.40; p: 0.002) and sleep disorders (F = 2.67; p: 0.05) were associated with increase in seizure frequency. Patients were able to contact their physicians when needed and were open to a future telematic approach to follow-up visits. CONCLUSIONS: Seizure frequency and severity remained unchanged in most patients during the lockdown. Mood and sleep disorders were common and associated with seizure worsening. Patients were open to telematic care in the future.

Beyond the Epileptic Focus: Functional Epileptic Networks in Focal Epilepsy.

Focal epilepsy can be conceptualized as a network disorder, and the functional epileptic network can be described as a complex system of multiple brain areas that interact dynamically to generate epileptic activity. However, we still do not fully understand the functional architecture of epileptic networks. We studied a cohort of 21 patients with extratemporal focal epilepsy. We used independent component analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. In order to identify the epilepsy-related components, we examined the general linear model-derived electroencephalography-fMRI (EEG-fMRI) time courses associated with interictal epileptic activity as intrinsic hemodynamic epileptic biomarkers. Independent component analysis revealed components related to the epileptic time courses in all 21 patients. Each epilepsy-related component described a network of spatially distributed brain areas that corresponded to the specific epileptic network in each patient. We also provided evidence for the interaction between the epileptic activity generated at the epileptic network and the physiological resting state networks. Our findings suggest that independent component analysis, guided by EEG-fMRI epileptic time courses, have the potential to define the functional architecture of the epileptic network in a noninvasive way. These data could be useful in planning invasive EEG electrode placement, guiding surgical resections, and more effective therapeutic interventions.

The emerging role of the advanced practice epilepsy nurse: A comparative study between two countries.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare advanced practice in epilepsy nurses in Spain and United Kingdom, identifying differences in the domains of standard advanced practice. BACKGROUND: Europe has recently faced the challenge of providing high-quality care for patients with epilepsy, a disease that generates many health demands. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, advanced practice nursing is well established and could serve as a guide for implantation in countries where it is still in development, as is the case of Spain. DESIGN: A multicentre cross-sectional descriptive cohort study compared differences in the roles of advanced practice nurses in Spain and the United Kingdom. METHODS: The Advanced Practice Role Delineation Tool and its validated Spanish version were administered using an online questionnaire in a cohort of advanced practice epilepsy nurses in both countries. A convenience sample was recruited between January to December 2019. The study complied with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist. RESULTS: Most United Kingdom nurses in our sample came from community environments, in contrast to Spanish nurses who worked in hospital. All domains analysed in the survey had significantly higher scores in the United Kingdom than in the Spanish cohort, especially in the research and leadership domains. CONCLUSIONS: The advanced practice role in Spain is underdeveloped compared with the United Kingdom. Differences in the settings of advanced roles in epilepsy nurses may be explained by greater community practice in the United Kingdom and differences in organisational and health systems. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Our study showed the need to implement specific policies to develop advance practice nurse roles in Spain to improve the quality of care of patients with epilepsy.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stress, resilience and depression in health professionals: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: To describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stress, resilience and depression in health professionals from a public hospital in Barcelona, Spain after the first peak of pandemic. BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic in Spain has pushed boundaries in health systems and, especially, for health professionals. Analysis of resilience as an individual resource and it is essential to understand the mechanisms that make staff react unfavourably to stressors caused by the pandemic. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed. PARTICIPANTS: Health professionals supervised by the nursing department, including registered nurses, health care assistants, health technicians, final year nurse student nurses, foreign nurses, and other nurse-related health workers. METHODS: The study complies with the STROBE checklist for cross-sectional studies. An online survey was administered to all health professionals supervised by the nursing department between 6 and 27 May 2020. The survey included the ER-14 Resilience Scale, the widely-used PHQ-9 depression scale, the Spanish version of the Nursing Stress Scale, and an ad-hoc questionnaire to obtain sociodemographic and occupational variables. RESULTS: A total of 686 participants answered the survey. Resilience was high or very high in health professionals, with an inverse correlation with stress and depression scores. Personal on fixed shifts showed better resilience. The most stressed health professionals were full-time registered nurses, followed by health care assistants. Up to 25% of nursing professionals had depression. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a high degree of resilience among nurse professionals despite the overwhelming nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. Relevant signs of depression and stress were detected among participants. Occupational factors heavily influenced nurses' resilience, stress and depression. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING & HEALTH POLICY: Government policy shifts are needed in Spain to improve nurses' workforce conditions, enhance the ratio of nurses to patient numbers, and avoid workforce losses. Maintaining the resilience of health professionals would assist in improving their health and their capacity to possible future emergency situations.

Emergency implementation of telemedicine for epilepsy in Spain: Results of a survey during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Teleneurology in Spain had not been implemented so far in clinical practice, except in urgent patients with stroke. Telemedicine was hardly used in epilepsy, and patients and neurologists usually preferred onsite visits. Our goal was to study impressions of adult and pediatric epileptologists about the use of telemedicine after emergent implementation during the new coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: An online survey was sent to the members of the Spanish Epilepsy Society and the members of the Epilepsy Study Group of the Catalan Neurological Society, inquiring about different aspects of telemedicine in epilepsy during the pandemic lockdown. RESULTS: A total of 66 neurologists responded, mostly adult neurologists (80.3%), the majority with a monographic epilepsy clinic (4 out of 5). Of all respondents, 59.1% reported to attend more than 20 patients with epilepsy (PWE) a week. During the pandemic, respondents handled their epilepsy clinics mainly with telephone calls (88%); only 4.5% used videoconference. Changes in antiseizure medications were performed less frequently than during onsite visits by 66.6% of the epileptologists. Scales were not administered during these visits, and certain types of information such as sudden expected unrelated death in epilepsy (SUDEP) were felt to be more appropriate to discuss in person. More than 4 out of 5 of the neurologists (84.8%) stated that they would be open to perform some telematic visits in the future. CONCLUSIONS: In Spain, emergent implantation of teleneurology has shown to be appropriate for the care of many PWE. Technical improvements, extended use of videoconference and patient selection may improve results and patient and physician satisfaction.

Spanish version of the Satisfaction with Epilepsy Care questionnaire: Adaptation and psychometric properties.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to perform a cross-cultural adaption and psychometric evaluation of the Spanish version of the Satisfaction with Epilepsy Care (SEC) questionnaire and analyze patient satisfaction with epilepsy care. METHODS: Transcultural adaptation and validation of the SEC were carried out using translation and back-translation with pilot testing and an expert panel. The SEC-E (Spanish) was analyzed in 213 patients with epilepsy to examine construct and criterion validity and internal consistency. RESULTS: The SEC-E achieved conceptual, semantic, and content equivalence with the original version. For content validity, one question was eliminated from the original questionnaire as it has little relevance in our cultural setting. Positive correlations for criterion validity were obtained using the gold standard measure (Satisfaction in Hospitalized Patients scale). Construct validity replicated the three dimensions of the original questionnaire. The scale showed adequate reliability through internal consistency (Cronbach's α of 0.94) and temporal stability on retest (n = 85). Patients scored (0 to 100) 77.5 [standard deviation (SD): 19.9] for satisfaction with communication, 76.9 (SD: 17) for organization, and 67.2 (SD: 22.1) for information. SIGNIFICANCE: The SEC-E is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of educational interventions aiming to improve the quality of care in patients with epilepsy in Spanish clinical practice. The results showed a good level of patient satisfaction with epilepsy care.

Unilateral pallidal stimulation for disabling dystonia due to Rasmussen's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an adult patient with Rasmussen's disease with focal dystonia as the most disabling symptom and the good response to unilateral globus pallidus internus (GPi) deep brain stimulation (DBS). METHODS: Retrospective review of clinical records and diagnostic tests. RESULTS: The patient had displayedmild focal seizures with sensory and motor symptoms on the left arm and hemiface since the age of 22. Ten years later she experienced abrupt onset of focal left dystonia involving mainly the leg. Brain MRI showed progressive right hemisphere atrophy, and  18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET) showed right hypometabolism mainly over the frontal and insular regions. Brain biopsy confirmed chronic encephalitis. The dystonia became very severe and made walking extremely difficult. Different treatments including dopaminergic, anticholinergic, immunomodulatory drugs and botulinum toxin were ineffective. Finally the patient was treated with unilateral GPi DBS. Shortly after the onset of the stimulation, the dystonia started to improve. Parameters have been adjusted, and 18 months after surgery the patient is able to walk and run unaided, although a mild left leg dystonia persists. CONCLUSION: Rasmussen's disease may be difficult to diagnose in adult patients. Associated movement disorders may be more disabling than seizures. Focal dystonia may be treated successfully with DBS.

Nursing Interventions for Patient Empowerment during Intensive Care Unit Discharge: A Systematic Review.

Intensive care unit discharge is an important transition that impacts a patient's wellbeing. Nurses can play an essential role in this scenario, potentiating patient empowerment. A systematic review was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (the PRISMA Statement. Embase), PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CUIDEN Plus, and LILACS databases; these were evaluated in May 2021. Two independent reviewers analyzed the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of evidence. Quality of the studies included was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Of the 274 articles initially identified, eight randomized controlled trials that reported on nursing interventions had mainly focused on patients' ICU discharge preparation through information and education. The creation of ICU nurse-led teams and nurses' involvement in critical care multidisciplinary teams also aimed to support patients during ICU discharge. This systematic review provides an update on the clinical practice aimed at improving the patient experience during ICU discharge. The main nursing interventions were based on information and education, as well as the development of new nursing roles. Understanding transitional needs and patient empowerment are key to making the transition easier.

Psychotic symptoms in drug resistant epilepsy patients after cortical stimulation.

PURPOSE: The use of invasive EEG (iEEG) recordings before epilepsy surgery has increased as more complex focal epilepsies are evaluated. Psychotic symptoms (PS) during iEEG have been scarcely reviewed. We aim to report our series of patients with psychotic symptoms (PS) brought about by cortical stimulation (CS) and to identify triggers. METHODS: Retrospective cohort of patients who underwent iEEG and CS. We report patients who developed delusional thinking and/or disorganized behaviour within 24 h after CS. Exclusion criteria were primary psychiatric disorders or absence of CS. RESULTS: We evaluated 32 (SEEG 23; subdural 9) patients with a median age of 38 years, 6 with PS. Patients underwent 2586 stimulations over 1130 contacts. Age at CS was significantly higher in patients with PS. Temporal lobe epilepsy was significantly more often documented in patients with PS (χ2: 3.94; p< 0.05). We found no correlation between stimulation of the limbic system and development of psychosis. Four (66.7 %) patients were stimulated in the non-dominant limbic system and developed psychosis compared to 7 (27 %) who did not [χ2: 3.41; p= 0.06].Epilepsy duration was significantly higher in PS patients (p=0.002). Patients with history of postictal psychosis were twice more likely to experience PS(p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: PS may arise more frequently in patients with PIP history, older age and longer epilepsy duration. The neurobiology and physiology of psychosis, that may share common mechanisms with epilepsy, is yet to be identified but we hypothesize that it may be triggered by CS due to alteration of brain networks dynamics.

Volumetric and shape analysis of the hippocampus in temporal lobe epilepsy with GAD65 antibodies compared with non-immune epilepsy.

Glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 antibodies (anti-GAD65) have been found in patients with late-onset chronic temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). No prior neuroimaging studies have addressed how they affect hippocampal volume and shape and how they relate to cognitive abnormalities. We aimed to investigate both brain structure and function in patients with isolated TLE and high anti-GAD65 levels (RIA ≥ 2000 U/ml) compared to 8 non-immune mesial TLE (niTLE) and 8 healthy controls (HC). Hippocampal subfield volume properties were correlated with the duration of the disease and cognitive test scores. The affected hippocampus of GAD-TLE patients showed no volume changes to matched HC whereas niTLE volumes were significantly smaller. Epilepsy duration in GAD-TLE patients correlated negatively with volumes in the presubiculum, subiculum, CA1, CA2-3, CA4, molecular layer and granule cell-molecular layer of the dentate nucleus. We found differences by advanced vertex-wise shape analysis in the anterior hippocampus of the left GAD-TLE compared to HC whereas left niTLE showed bilateral posterior hippocampus deformation. Verbal deficits were similar in GAD-TLE and niTLE but did not correlate to volume changes. These data might suggest a distinct expression of hippocampal structural and functional abnormalities based on the immune response.

External trigeminal nerve stimulation for drug resistant epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: External trigeminal nerve stimulation (ETNS) is an emergent, non-invasive neurostimulation therapy delivered bilaterally with adhesive skin electrodes. In previous studies, ETNS was associated to a decrease in seizure frequency in patients with focal drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE). OBJECTIVE: To determine the long-term efficacy and tolerability of ETNS in patients with focal DRE. Moreover, to explore whether its efficacy depends on the epileptogenic zone (frontal or temporal), and its impact on mood, cognitive function, quality of life, and trigeminal nerve excitability. METHODS: Forty consecutive patients with frontal or temporal DRE, unsuitable for surgery, were randomized to ETNS or usual medical treatment. Participants were evaluated at 3, 6 and 12 months for efficacy, side effects, mood scales, neuropsychological tests and trigeminal nerve excitability. RESULTS: Subjects had a median of 15 seizures per month and had tried a median of 12.5 antiepileptic drugs. At 12 months, percentage of responders was 50% in ETNS group and 0% in control group. Seizure frequency in ETNS group decreased by -43.5% from baseline. Temporal epilepsy subgroup responded better than frontal epilepsy subgroup (55.56% vs. 45.45%, respectively). Median stimulation intensity was 6.2 mA. ETNS improved quality of life, but not anxiety or depression. Long-term ETNS affected neither neuropsychological function, nor trigeminal nerve excitability. No relevant adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: ETNS is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for focal DRE. Patients with temporal epilepsy showed a better response than those with frontal epilepsy. Future studies with larger populations may define its role compared to other neurostimulation techniques. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that ETNS reduces seizure frequency in patients with focal DRE.

Hypothalamic hamartomas in adulthood: Clinical spectrum and treatment outcome-A unicenter experience.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical manifestations of the hypothalamic hamartoma-epilepsy syndrome (HH-ES) in adulthood are variable. Efficacy of therapeutic options and outcome are diverse. METHODS: Retrospective study of adult patients diagnosed with a HH in magnetic resonance imaging and epilepsy who attended our tertiary Epilepsy Unit between 2003 and 2018. We report the clinical and electroencephalographic features of a series of adult patients with HH and related epilepsy seen in our center together with the treatments and seizure outcome. RESULTS: We describe a series of eight patients. Five males (62.5%), median age at evaluation was 28.5 years (IQR: 15.5). Clinical manifestations included focal with preserved and impaired awareness emotional seizures (gelastic seizures [GS]) in six patients (75%), focal tonic, atonic with impaired awareness and focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. Mild GS were the only symptom in one patient. Three patients (37.5%) had endocrinological disturbances such as obesity and hypothyroidism. Fifty percent of the patients showed psychiatric comorbidity such as anxiety disorder and aggressiveness, and two patients had psychomotor delay. Seven patients (87.7%) had drug-resistant seizures and three of them were treated with radiosurgery. Out of the treated group, only one (33.3%) became seizure-free 2 years after surgery but developed psychiatric problems. The other two patients had an Engel IV outcome and received a vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) implant. VNS did not lead to changes either in intensity nor in seizure frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Hypothalamic hamartoma-epilepsy syndrome clinical manifestations in adult patients are as variable as at pediatric age. Outcome of therapeutic options such as radiosurgery or VNS may be poorer at this stage.