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Newsletter N° 26 | June, 2017 |
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Feature article: Depression and the Risk of Suicide in Epilepsy
For this issue, we sat down with Dr. Lorna Myers, clinical psychologist with 15 plus years of experience, to discuss a very important topic that is faced by a number of those living with epilepsy: depression and suicidal ideation. Dr. Lorna Myers earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the City University of New York, completed her hospital-based training at Bellevue Medical Center and then went on to complete a fellowship in neuropsychology. She joined the Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group nearly 10 years ago.
Depression and suicide are all too often avoided by health professionals and loved ones because it is disturbing and frightening and it may not be clear what needs to be done about it if confirmed. However, depression is in fact one of the more common psychiatric disorders that can accompany epilepsy along with increased risks for suicidal thoughts and actions. In this feature article, we are going to go over depression risk factors, theories as to why suicidal ideation might be more frequent in epilepsy, and also go over recommendations for prevention and suggestions on how to respond if you suspect someone is feeling suicidal.
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| Hypothalamic hamartomas and the foundation that supports these patients |
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In this quarterly issue, Dr. Lorraine Lazar explains in clear English what hypothalamic hamartomas are, what seizures associated to this would look like, as well as diagnostic and treatment issues. At the end of the article, she also included resources for those who have this condition.
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| Epilepsy Star: Marc Hoberman |
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Our June 2017 Epilepsy Star is Marc Hoberman. He is a person living with epilepsy who has become a huge epilepsy advocate in recent years. He wrote a fantastic memoir called Search and Seizure which we recommend for your future reading material.
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| Our epilepsy community of patients, family, friends and doctors has been busy |
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Patients, family members, friends, doctors, office managers, secretaries and nurses have all been extra-busy these last few months raising epilepsy awareness through a five-borough bike ride in New York City and through a town hall meeting in Hackensack, NJ. Read all about the activities NEREG and their patients have been a part of this year and check out the photo gallery in the links provided!
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Support Groups
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Our support groups are back up and running through September 2016 to June 2017!
VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUPS
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) support group
Third Thursday of the month until June: From 12-1PM
The group is for patients at our NEREG PNES program diagnosed with PNES who have completed treatment or who are advanced in their current treatment. Unfortunately, the group is not open to anyone who has not gone through our treatment program because the demand would be too great for our conference call. The group meets to touch base, to go over current problems that may have arisen for group members associated to PNES, for general support and comradery, and to continue to be part of the PNES community.
Joining a group is easy!
Benefits:
• All 60-minute sessions are held through GoToMeeting®
• Each group is kept small in order to encourage friendship and optimal discussion time (8-10 participants.)
• All groups are led by a facilitator who is knowledgeable about psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.
• Confidential.
• Participation in this facilitated discussion is expected and encouraged. You are not on camera, so come in your PJs.
• FREE
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you are a NEREG patient, have epilepsy and would be interested in a similar group, please contact Lmyers@epilepsygroup.com. In the past, we tried to establish an on-line group like this for our patients with epilepsy but there was limited attendance-but who is to say that we can't try again and with better results?
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Stay tuned because there are a lot of epilepsy and seizure disorder events and activities coming up in the second half of 2017 including a webinar that is being offered by Lorna Myers on the treatment of psychogenic seizures (PNES) using prolonged exposure therapy and two Brain Health Initiatives in New Jersey.
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Launched in 1998, Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group (NEREG) is a multi-site practice in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut that offers unique services and comprehensive care to children and adults with epilepsy. NEREG provides state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures, 24/7 patient service, highly skilled and experienced practitioners, and exceptional specialty programs designed to cover a broad range of health care needs in each epilepsy patient. NEREG consists of twenty board-certified epilepsy specialists with fellowship training in adult and childhood epilepsy, as well as many other highly skilled health care providers including pediatric/adult neurosurgeons, neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, epilepsy nurse practitioners, a specially trained nutritionist and epilepsy advocates.
Launched in 2003, Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center (MAESC) is a practice located in Bethesda, Maryland that offers neurological services and comprehensive care to children and adults. MAESC consists of six board-certified neurologists who treat epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and other neurological illnesses.
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20 Prospect Avenue, Suite 800
Hackensack, New Jersey 07601
Tel (201) 343-6676 / Fax (201) 343-6689
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333 Westchester Avenue, Suite E104
White Plains, NY 10604
(914)4289213
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