Data and statistics about Epilepsy† :
- Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures.
- There are many types of seizures and their symptoms can vary from a momentary disruption of the senses, to short periods of unconsciousness or staring spells, to convulsions.
- Epilepsy can be caused by many different conditions that affect a person’s brain. Often no definite cause can be found. Epilepsy cannot be transmitted from person to person.
- Epilepsy affects about 2 million Americans.† †
- About 10% of people will experience a seizure sometime during their lifetime and about 3% will have had a diagnosis of epilepsy by age 80.
- About 140,000 new cases of epilepsy will be diagnosed in the U.S. each year. † †
- Epilepsy results in an estimated annual cost of $15.5 billion in medical costs and lost or reduced earnings and production.
† Source: CDC Epilepsy Program http://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/
† † Source: CDC Epilepsy Program Fast Facts http://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/basics/fast_facts.htm
Websites:
The American Epilepsy Society promotes research and education for professionals dedicated to the prevention, treatment and cure of epilepsy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Epilepsy
The CDC Epilepsy Program’s mission is to address public health issues related to epilepsy to improve the health of people living with epilepsy, especially those at greater risk for health disparities; improve their quality of life; and decrease the stigma associated with this condition.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: PRC: Managing Epilepsy Wel
The CDC Prevention Research Centers' description of the Managing Epilepsy Well Network.
CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy)
CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for epilepsy by raising funds for research and by increasing awareness of the prevalence and devastation of this disease.
EpilepsyAdvocate.com is a community for those suffering from epilepsy. This site provides information and resources for all those living with epilepsy including the types and causes of seizures as well as inspirational stories from advocates and scholarship programs.
Epilepsy Foundation provides trusted, reliable information for people with epilepsy and their caregivers.
Information for those recently diagnosed with epilepsy and for those with intractable epilepsy.
On-line Publications:Expanding the Reach and Impact of Consumer e-Health Tools (June 2006)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Health Literacy Improvement
Epilepsy Across the Spectrum: Promoting Health and Understanding (Institute of Medicine, March 2012)
Healthy People 20/20 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
Tool kits:
You are not Alone(Toolkit for parents of Teens with Epilepsy)
Training:
PEARLS: (Program for Encouraging Active Rewarding Lives): a community-based depression treatment program training to be held in Seattle, Washington: April 2012.
Educational Programs:
MOSES Educational Program (Bielefield, Germany)
[Das Schulungsprogramm für Menschen mit Epilepsie]
MOSES is an educational program developed by professionals in the field of epilepsy to support people with epilepsy:
- to become 'experts' of their condition through a better knowledge of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
- to understand possible psychosocial consequences of epilepsy and to cope actively with them.
- to live with as little epilepsy related restrictions as possible
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