Expert Perspectives in Epilepsy: Contemporary Strategies to Reduce Seizure Frequency and Improve Patient Quality of Life

Activity Description & Educational Objectives

In this activity, experts in neurological disorders discuss strategies to improve the management and quality of life of patients with epilepsy.

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

• Apply recent efficacy, safety, and mechanistic data on current and emerging therapies to the management of patients with refractory partial-onset seizures
• Develop individualized therapeutic regimens for the treatment of refractory partial-onset seizures based on unique patient characteristics and the benefits and risks of various antiepileptic drugs
• Implement interventions to address unmet physical and mental health needs in patients with epilepsy to improve quality of life

Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroscience nurses, neurologic pharmacists, and other clinicians involved in the care of patients with epilepsy.

Requirements for Successful Completion

In order to receive credit, participants must view the activity and complete the post-test and evaluation form. There are no pre-requisites and there is no fee to participate in this activity or to receive CME credit. Statements of Credit are awarded upon successful completion of the post-test and evaluation form.

Media: Internet
Release and Expiration Dates: February 26, 2013 - February 25, 2014
Time to Complete: 45 minutes

Faculty & Disclosure / Conflict of Interest Policy

In accordance with ACCME requirements, the University of Florida College of Medicine has a conflict of interest policy that requires faculty to disclose relevant financial relationships related to the content of their presentations/materials. Any potential conflicts are resolved so that presentations are evidence-based and scientifically balanced.

Course Director and Moderator

Sheryl R. Haut, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Neurology
Director, Adult Epilepsy Program
Director, Neurology Residency Training
Montefiore Medical Center
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, New York

Sheryl R. Haut, MD, has a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of:

Consultant for Acorda Therapeutics, Inc.; Neuronex; Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.; and VIVUS Inc.

Interviewees

Karen Ballaban-Gil, MD
Professor of Clinical Neurology and Clinical Pediatrics
Director, Child Neurology Residency Program
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx, New York

Karen Ballaban-Gil, MD, currently has no financial interests/relationships or affiliations in relation to this activity.

Michael D. Privitera, MD
Professor of Neurology
Director, Epilepsy Center at the UC Neuroscience Institute
Neurologist, UC Neuroscience Institute
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Cincinnati, Ohio

Michael D. Privitera, MD, has a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of:

Consultant for Eli Lilly and Company and Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. in the form of Data Safety Monitoring Board.

Grant/Research Support from Eisai Inc.and UCB, Inc.

CME Reviewer

Kalina Sanders, MD
Assistant Professor of Neurology
University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida

Kalina Sanders, MD, has a financial interest/relationship or affiliation in the form of:

Consultant for EMD Serono, Inc.

Speakers Bureau participant with EMD Serono, Inc./Pfizer, Inc.; Biogen Idec; Teva Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.; and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

All financial relationships listed above have ended as of June 2012.

Medical Director

Kathryn B. Charalambous, PhD
PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education

Kathryn B. Charalambous, PhD, currently has no financial interests/relationships or affiliations in relation to this activity.

Sponsorship, Credit & Support

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the University of Florida College of Medicine and PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education. The University of Florida College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Florida College of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This CME activity is jointly sponsored by the University of Florida College of Medicine and PVI, PeerView Institute for Medical Education.

This activity is supported by educational grants from

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use

The faculty of this educational activity may include discussions of products or devices that are not currently labeled for use by the FDA. Faculty members have been advised to disclose to the audience any reference to an unlabeled or investigational use.

No endorsement of unapproved products or uses is made or implied by coverage of these products or uses in our reports. No responsibility is taken for errors or omissions in reports.

Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications and warnings.