Always an urgent issue

Epilepsy is one of the oldest diseases described and one of the most common neurological diagnoses. According to WHO, 1% of the world's population suffers from epilepsy (European White Paper on Epilepsy, 2001; WHO, 2014). There are about 35,000 people with active epilepsy in Georgia. It is a constantly changing and complex nosology. Its etiopathogenesis still requires thorough studies. The risk of premature death in individuals with epilepsy is 3 times higher than in the rest of the population. Epilepsy is a universal chronic disease that can develop in people of any gender, age and social class. With that many issues, epilepsy is not only a medical but also a global problem. This problem places a heavy social and economic burden on both a patient and a family, as well as the healthcare system. The problem is related to the stigmas spread in the society; Sick individuals are limited in their choice of profession. Epilepsy is a heterogeneous condition and its epidemiological studies are very complex. Often patients who hide their illness because of negative public attitudes and social stigma are inaccessible to epidemiological research. Due to the epileptic clinical feature diversity, the process of data collection, diagnosis and classification of the condition is complicated.

Multidisciplinary issue

Epilepsy is not managed by a single specialist. A prerequisite for the perfect management of patients is the existence of a multidisciplinary team that includes neurosurgeons, neurologists, psychologists and psychiatrists. People with epilepsy often have both physical problems (eg, fractures, bruises) and psychological problems (including anxiety and depression). Its heterogeneity, which is related to the etiological diversity of the disease (structural, genetic, infectious, metabolic, and unknown), makes epilepsy an area of interest in many fields of modern science.

Constantly updated approaches

Innovative, high-tech (deep stimulation), translational and pharmacological approaches to the treatment of epilepsy are constantly being introduced. More attention is paid to rare epilepsy syndromes and refractory conditions. New trends in management are noted, aimed not only at eliminating and preventing seizure episodes, but also at modifying the disease and improving quality of life (e.g., managing mood and memory problems).