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Ramon Diaz-Arrastia, MD,PhD; Mark A. Agostini, MD; Paul C. Van Ness, MD

JAMA. 2002;287:2917-2920.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

INTRODUCTION

Epilepsy is a common disabling illness. The worldwide prevalence is in the range of 0.5% to 0.9% as assessed by studies in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa.¹ Although most patients with epilepsy lead an independent and full life, up to 30% report moderate to marked limitations. They have a high rate of unemployment and underemployment,² which results in high economic and social costs to patients, their families, and the community at large. The last decade of the 20th century, proclaimed the Decade of the Brain, witnessed remarkable advances on many fronts related to understanding the pathophysiology of epilepsy, the natural history of the disease, as well as important advances in therapeutics. We focus on 3 areas where important developments have occurred in the past 10 years.

Advances in Pharmacotherapeutics

The Decade of the Brain produced many new antiepileptic . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Efficacy

Tolerability

Advances in Resective Surgical Therapies

Emerging Alternate Therapeutic Strategies

Conclusion

Author Affiliations: Department of Neurology and Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas.