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Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
Published on: April 11, 2019
Outcomes from a nurse-led clinic for adolescents with epilepsy
Linda J Stephen1, Jan Maxwell, Martin J Brodie
1Epilepsy Unit, University Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Purpose:
Epilepsy is the commonest serious neurological condition to affect adolescents. We established a nurse-led clinic for young people with suspected or diagnosed epilepsy. Outcomes in all patients referred during the first 4 years after its inception are reported.
Methods:
A total of 301 adolescents were seen at the clinic during 1996-1999. Epilepsy was excluded in 135 (45%), including 5 receiving antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy. A single seizure occurred in 22 (7%) others. Seventy-six patients (25%) had treated epilepsy and 68 (23%) were newly diagnosed.
Results:
More than 1 year's seizure freedom was achieved by 53% of patients, 76% with one AED, 16% with two and 3% with three. Four (5%) patients remained seizure free off medication. Sixteen (11%) were lost to follow-up. Outcome was better (P<0.05) for newly diagnosed (59% seizure free) than for treated (47% seizure free) epilepsy and for idiopathic generalised (60% seizure free) than for partial (46% seizure free) seizures (P<0.02). Magnetic resonance imaging of brain was obtained in 63 (85%) patients with localisation-related epilepsy. Findings were abnormal in 43%, including nine with cortical dysplasia, eight with mesial temporal sclerosis and two with gliomas.
Conclusions:
Epilepsy can be difficult to diagnose in adolescents. Outcomes were surprisingly poor suggesting the need for improved services for this patient population.
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