Epilepsy & Behavior最新文献

{"title":"Restrictions due to epilepsy in newly diagnosed patients: Which areas of daily life are affected and how effective is an inpatient rehabilitation program?","authors":"Anne Hagemann ,&nbsp;Denise Lahr ,&nbsp;Pascal Speicher ,&nbsp;Heiko Hausfeld ,&nbsp;Ingrid Coban ,&nbsp;Birgitt Müffelmann ,&nbsp;Christian G. Bien ,&nbsp;Theodor W. May ,&nbsp;Ulrich Specht","doi":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110871","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110871","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To examine restrictions in daily life perceived by people with newly diagnosed epilepsy (NDE) before participation in a specialized inpatient rehabilitation program and to evaluate the effects of rehabilitation on these perceived restrictions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted an explorative study using data from two prospective studies evaluating the efficacy of the rehabilitation program. We analyzed the pre-rehabilitation assessment of the scale “Restrictions in daily life due to epilepsy” of the Performance, Socio-demographic Aspects, Subjective Evaluation (PESOS) questionnaire for patients with NDE (anti-seizure medication treatment for ≤ 1 year) and compared it with those of patients with chronic epilepsy (CE, treatment for &gt; 5 years). Rehabilitation effects were evaluated by comparing the 1-year-follow-up assessments of patients with NDE to those of a control group with a similar epilepsy duration, but without rehabilitation (CG_NDE).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Patients with NDE reported the strongest perceived restrictions for “Driving a car/motorcycle” (86.2 % <em>very strongly</em>, vs. 60.2 % in CE, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001) and “Employment, vocational training/school” (73.1 % vs. 53.1 % in CE, <em>p</em> = 0.067). Some characteristics of patients with NDE (e.g., sex, psychiatric comorbidity) correlated with perceived restrictions in most areas of life, while others showed more specific associations (e.g., financial restrictions with school-leaving qualification). One year after rehabilitation, patients with NDE reported significantly lower perceived restrictions across nearly all areas of life compared to the CG_NDE (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The strongest perceived restrictions occurred in areas of life where even a first seizure imposes objective limitations (driving and employment). One year after rehabilitation, our data indicated a lasting effect of the rehabilitation program.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11847,"journal":{"name":"Epilepsy & Behavior","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 110871"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146073904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Increasing capacity for epilepsy self‐management via a hub and spoke implementation model: Clinician perspectives from epilepsy centers in the United States","authors":"Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos ,&nbsp;Laura Bernstein ,&nbsp;Trina Dawson ,&nbsp;Lisa Feeley ,&nbsp;Barbara C. Jobst ,&nbsp;Sarah J. Kaden ,&nbsp;Sharon O’Connor","doi":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110865","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110865","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Rationale</h3><div>HOme-Based Self-management and COgnitive Training CHanges Lives (HOBSCOTCH) is a novel telehealth self-management program aimed at improving cognitive function and quality of life for people with epilepsy. Using a Hub and Spoke model, the HOBSCOTCH Institute at Dartmouth Health partnered with epilepsy center clinics across the U.S. in the HOBSCOTCH Institute Translational Network (HITN) to examine facilitators and barriers to epilepsy self-management program implementation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Key informant interviews were conducted with 16 clinician champions from geographically diverse epilepsy centers using a semi-structured guide to explore clinic-level and patient-level factors influencing HOBSCOTCH implementation. Transcripts were analyzed using deductive coding to identify barriers, facilitators, and contextual dynamics shaping program integration.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Findings suggest that the program design, relying on both patient referral to the centralized HOBSCOTCH Institute Hub and onsite Spoke delivery, is well supported by providers. Implementation barriers identified as requiring consideration included technology challenges, language barriers, staffing capacity for program delivery onsite, and readiness of quality improvement systems.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>There is increasing recognition of the need to integrate evidence-based self-management into epilepsy clinical care streams. Clinician education and real-world implementation strategies will need to address contextual challenges for broad-based implementation and increased patient access to self-management supports. Access pathways, intervention delivery models, interdisciplinary collaboration, and tailored support will be required to scale epilepsy self-management programs effectively.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11847,"journal":{"name":"Epilepsy & Behavior","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 110865"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145917361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intellectual function and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia","authors":"Hannah Padilla ,&nbsp;Eva C. Alden ,&nbsp;Isha Snehal ,&nbsp;Jeffrey W. Britton ,&nbsp;Lily C. Wong-Kisiel ,&nbsp;Elaine C. Wirrell ,&nbsp;Kelsey M. Smith","doi":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.110918","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.110918","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Epilepsy with Eyelid Myoclonia (EEM) is a rare childhood-onset epilepsy syndrome. There is limited data about cognitive function and psychiatric comorbidities in patients with EEM.</div></div><div><h3>Design/Methods</h3><div>A database of 134 patients with EEM was reviewed for patients who underwent neuropsychological testing. Psychiatric comorbidities and psychometric test scores were identified. Group comparison was performed between those who underwent neuropsychological testing and those who did not. In addition, we evaluated whether clinical factors were associated with IQ score.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Fourteen patients underwent neuropsychological testing (12 females, 85.7%), with a median age at testing of 17 (range 7–22). Median IQ was 79 (range 56–110); 7 patients had below average IQ. Other median results of neuropsychometric measures were: Verbal Comprehension Index 85.5 (range 66–116), Perceptual Reasoning Index or Visual Spatial Index 81.5 (range 67–100), Working Memory Index 77 (range 54–100), Processing Speed Index 84 (range 53–94), and Reading Standardized Scores 84 (range 64–126). Common psychiatric comorbidities were anxiety (n = 10), depression (n = 7), ADHD (n = 6), and autism (n = 2). Those who underwent neuropsychological testing had a younger age of epilepsy onset, longer follow-up at our institution, and were more likely to have myoclonic seizures or psychosis than those who did not undergo neuropsychological testing. No clinical factors were statistically associated with IQ score.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>EEM is associated with a wide range of cognitive abilities, with half of our patients having a below average IQ. Psychiatric comorbidities were common. Identifying cognitive impairment and psychiatric comorbidities is crucial to implement appropriate management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11847,"journal":{"name":"Epilepsy & Behavior","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 110918"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146073929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Short and long term seizure outcomes in functional/dissociative seizures: a single center cohort study with 1–10 years of follow up from Türkiye","authors":"Gizem Güllü ,&nbsp;Aylin Bican Demir ,&nbsp;İbrahim Hakkı Bora","doi":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110872","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110872","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Functional/Dissociative Seizures (FDS) are episodic events resembling epileptic seizures but stemming from psychological origins. They often result in misdiagnosis and suboptimal treatment, significantly impairing patients’ quality of life. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and demographic factors associated with short and long term prognosis in FDS.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The primary variables of interest were seizure outcomes at two horizons: short term (status at 6 months after discharge) and long term (status during the last 12 months within 1–10 years post-diagnosis). We defined seizure outcomes as remission vs persistence and change in seizure frequency from baseline, ascertained from VEM records and standardized clinic/telephone follow up.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The cohort included 147 patients; short term seizure outcomes were available for 144 and long term seizure outcomes for 138 (median follow-up 6 years; range 1–10). At 6 months, 6.9 % were seizure free; at long term follow up, 37.7 % were seizure free. In short term analysis, only early diagnosis (≤1 year) remained significantly associated with remission after Holm adjustment (<em>p</em> = 0.039). Logistic regression showed that early diagnosis (<em>p</em> = 0.018) and higher age at FDS onset (<em>p</em> = 0.026) independently predicted favorable short term seizure outcomes, whereas the presence of family related stressors was associated with poorer prognosis (<em>p</em> = 0.006). In the long term analysis, family related stressors remained significantly associated with poorer seizure outcomes after Holm adjustment (<em>p</em> = 0.007). Logistic regression further showed that longer FDS episodes (≥5 min) were associated with a more favorable long term seizure outcome (<em>p</em> = 0.027), whereas family related stressors continued to independently predict poorer prognosis (<em>p</em> = 0.002).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>FDS outcomes are shaped by identifiable psychosocial and clinical factors. Early diagnosis and older age at onset predict favorable short term remission, whereas family related stressors consistently predict poorer outcomes across both time horizons. These findings highlight the prognostic value of early detection and the need to address sustained family related stress in treatment planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11847,"journal":{"name":"Epilepsy & Behavior","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 110872"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974350","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Needs of pregnant women with epilepsy–a mixed methods study","authors":"Rajeswari Aghoram ,&nbsp;Pradeep P. Nair ,&nbsp;Subitha Lakshminarayanan ,&nbsp;Anish Keepanasseril ,&nbsp;Zunatha Banu ,&nbsp;Rajalakshmy Ramasamy ,&nbsp;Priyadarshini Rajendran","doi":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110867","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110867","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological condition complicating pregnancy. This study aims to understand and explore the needs of pregnant women with epilepsy in India using a concurrent mixed methods approach (Quan-Qual).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Study was conducted in a comprehensive epilepsy care center of a tertiary care hospital in South of India. After obtaining ethics approval consecutive women with active epilepsy who were currently pregnant were approached and followed till 6 weeks post-partum. Apart from demographic and clinical details, quality of life, self-efficacy, perceived stress, anxiety and social support were estimated. Focus group discussions of 4–6 members facilitated by a trained member of the research team for various stake holders (currently pregnant women, care givers, health care providers, and recently delivered women with good outcomes, and with bad outcomes) were conducted till data saturation. These were recorded, transcribed and coded using both inductive and deductive methods. Quantitative data was processed using STATA ver14.2, Stata Corp, USA and qualitative data using NVIVO, USA. Integration was carried out by merging and triangulating the results.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We recruited 40 pregnant women with epilepsy and the qualitative strand included 28 different stakeholders. Three major themes supported by quantitative and qualitative data emerged a. Epilepsy associated needs (antiseizure medication associated and fragmentation of care) b. Pregnancy associated needs (planned pregnancy) c. Pregnancy and epilepsy associated (anxiety and self-care). Many of these needs were unmet.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Pregnant women with epilepsy in have many unmet needs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11847,"journal":{"name":"Epilepsy & Behavior","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 110867"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145974638","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Numinous-like symptoms in epilepsy and/or insular tumors: A hospital cohort study","authors":"Fredrik K Andersson ,&nbsp;Bisrat Ezra ,&nbsp;Kenney Roy Roodakker ,&nbsp;Shala Berntsson ,&nbsp;Maria Zetterling ,&nbsp;Helena Gauffin ,&nbsp;A-M Landtblom","doi":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.110901","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.110901","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Ecstatic seizures (EcS) have captured scientific interest due to their potential origin in anterior insular networks, emphasizing the insula’s role in self-processing. Their frequency in epilepsy or insular pathology has not been systematically studied. Present study aimed to examine the frequency and clinical characteristics of EcS in epilepsy patients, and the potential occurrence of ecstatic symptoms in insula tumor patients.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Preformatted questionnaires on symptom reporting were sent to 200 epilepsy patients and 40 with resected insular tumors. Patients reporting EcS-related symptoms underwent in-person interviews. Hospital records, including EEG and imaging, were analyzed.</div><div>Seizure-related experiences with supernatural, religious, spiritual, mystical, or ecstatic features were referred to as “numinous-like symptoms” throughout the article.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Interestingly, a variety of rare, numinous-like ictal experiences were found, all of which are discussed in this study. In the epilepsy cohort, 83 patients responded, five (6.0 %) reported symptoms that qualified them for interview and final analysis. In the tumor cohort, 23 patients responded, two (8.7 %) reported relevant symptoms, both with pre-existing epilepsy. During the interviews, we identified EcS (n = 1), ictal out-of-body experiences (OBE) (n = 2), and ictal sensed presence (SenP) (n = 5); one patient experienced both SenP and OBE. Three SenP patients had seizure origin in the right hemisphere: two had resected tumors in the temporo-insular region and one had mesial temporal sclerosis. The EcS patient had aphasia as an early seizure symptom and left-sided temporal interictal epileptiform activity. The remaining patients had less distinct investigational results.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our findings indicate that seizure-related numinous-like experiences are not uncommon and should be actively assessed, given the difficulty and reluctance of patients to speak about them, and their relevance for evaluating seizure freedom and differential diagnoses. Neuroscientifically, these phenomena offer insight into consciousness: EcS and OBE occupy distinct nodes in self-processing networks, whereas SenP requires further cognitive, psychological, and phenomenological analysis to guide future neurobiological research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11847,"journal":{"name":"Epilepsy & Behavior","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 110901"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146035043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy and tolerability of blue-tinted contact lenses in the treatment of Sunflower syndrome: A questionnaire-based study","authors":"Kennedy R. Geenen ,&nbsp;Samantha V. Yap ,&nbsp;Lydia Tsega ,&nbsp;Steven Cantrell ,&nbsp;Patricia L. Bruno ,&nbsp;Elizabeth A. Thiele","doi":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.110921","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.110921","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim</h3><div>The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of the Cantrell Notch Filtering soft contact lens as a treatment for patients with Sunflower syndrome.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A questionnaire was distributed to patients with Sunflower syndrome that were being treated with the Cantrell Notch Filtering contact lenses. The survey was hosted on REDCap, and covered topics pertaining to the respondent’s history of Sunflower syndrome, including frequency of seizures, tolerability of the lenses, and the perceived benefit of the lenses with regard to reduction of handwaving episodes.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Nineteen people participated in this study. Sixteen of the 19 respondents provided numerical data regarding the frequency of handwaving episodes with and without contact lenses. At the time of survey completion, the average length of time that patients reported wearing the contact lenses was 11.5 months (range: 1 week-2 years 6 months). There was an average 72.9% reduction in handwaving episodes with the use of the contact lenses. Many respondents were able to reduce the use of other non-pharmacological interventions, such as hats and sunglasses, while wearing the contact lenses. However, 10 respondents (52.6%) reported difficulty with tolerability of the contact lenses, including stinging, burning, and color distortion. Of note, these contact lenses filter light between 250 and 650 nm, compared to a Zeiss Z1 lens which filters light between 550 and 700 nm.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The Cantrell Notch Filtering contact lens for Sunflower syndrome may be a beneficial non-pharmacological treatment option for some patients with Sunflower syndrome, although many patients have difficulty with tolerability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11847,"journal":{"name":"Epilepsy & Behavior","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 110921"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146074088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinical and neuroimaging features of PRRT2-related epilepsy in adult patients","authors":"Yi Yan ,&nbsp;Yuling Yang ,&nbsp;Yang Cai ,&nbsp;Shaoping Zhong ,&nbsp;Kaiyuan Shen ,&nbsp;Xin Wang ,&nbsp;Jing Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110868","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110868","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>While proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 (<em>PRRT2</em>) variants have been reported in association with self-limited infantile epilepsy (SeLIE), their relevance to adult epilepsy remains largely uncharacterized. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of <em>PRRT2</em> variants in an adult epilepsy cohort to broaden their phenotypic spectrum.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In a cohort of adult patients with epilepsy who underwent whole-exome sequencing (WES), individuals harboring <em>PRRT2</em> variants were identified and selected for further analysis. Amino acid conservation among species, combined with functional verification of mutant proteins, was performed to assess the pathogenicity of novel <em>PRRT2</em> variants. Furthermore, electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were conducted in patients carrying <em>PRRT2</em> variants.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Two novel missense variants (c.643C &gt; A/ p.P215T and c.932G &gt; A/ p.R311Q) were demonstrated to impair protein expression, indicating a likely haploinsufficiency mechanism. Nine cases were identified carrying <em>PRRT2</em> variants, including the c.649dupC hotspot variant and two missense variants. The age of seizure onset was predominantly during infancy or adolescence, with epilepsy persisting or relapsing into adulthood. Drug-resistant epilepsy was observed in two cases, whereas others were primarily controlled through sodium channel blockers. Unlike previously reported normal interictal EEG findings in <em>PRRT2</em>-related disorders, epileptiform discharges were recorded in the majority of patients. fMRI revealed reduced thalamocortical connectivity, indicating disrupted brain network integration.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study expands the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of <em>PRRT2</em>-related disorders, links its variants to epileptiform discharges, and reveals impaired network integration in <em>PRRT2</em>-associated epilepsy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11847,"journal":{"name":"Epilepsy & Behavior","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 110868"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146003392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effective connectivity of face and fear processing in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy","authors":"Christina Münchberger ,&nbsp;Kristina Krause ,&nbsp;Louise Linka ,&nbsp;Sascha Strehlau ,&nbsp;Anna Sophia Huber ,&nbsp;Julia Freigang ,&nbsp;Andreas Jansen ,&nbsp;Katja Menzler ,&nbsp;Susanne Knake ,&nbsp;Kristin M. Rusch","doi":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110863","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.110863","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Individuals with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) exhibit impaired facial emotion perception, especially regarding fear. However, the underlying neural mechanisms remain to be fully understood. Particularly, the connectivity between emotion-related regions, such as the amygdala, and visual face-processing areas, specifically the Fusiform Face Area (FFA), appears to be relevant for typical facial fear processing. We therefore explored the effective connectivity within the FFA-amygdala network in JME.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Fourteen individuals diagnosed with JME and 14 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and alexithymia (i.e., emotional awareness) participated in an fMRI face-viewing experiment. Participants were presented with images of neutral and fearful faces, as well as houses. Using Dynamic Causal Modelling, we examined endogenous connectivity, modulation by task conditions, and the influence of experimental inputs within the bilateral FFA-amygdala network (n = 24), incorporating both intra- and interhemispheric connections.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Compared to healthy controls, we found alterations mainly in the task-independent endogenous structure of the FFA-amygdala network in JME. The self-connection of the right amygdala was particularly enhanced, with the same tendency observed for the left amygdala and the right FFA. Furthermore, aberrations were indicated in the interhemispheric transfer between the amygdalae under the modulation of fear. Exploratory analyses revealed correlations of neural activity, and neural network parameters with both the onset and duration of epilepsy.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Overall, we found initial evidence of alterations in the FFA-amygdala network in JME. Particularly, the right amygdala showed a greater inhibitory self-connection, which suggests a generally reduced sensitivity to external input and might affect social and emotional processing. This emphasizes further exploring the network structure, its behavioural implications, and connectivity with other regions in larger samples.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11847,"journal":{"name":"Epilepsy & Behavior","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 110863"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145898142","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The social and occupational functioning Scale for epilepsy (SOFSE): Russian adaptation and psychometric performance in adults with epilepsy","authors":"Anna Gersamija ,&nbsp;Georgii Kustov ,&nbsp;Ilya Mishin ,&nbsp;Mikhail Zinchuk ,&nbsp;Flora Rider ,&nbsp;Alla Guekht","doi":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.110911","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.110911","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To develop and validate a Russian version of the Social and Occupational Functioning Scale for Epilepsy (SOFSE), addressing the lack of a validated Russian-language instrument for assessing social functioning in people with epilepsy (PWE), despite the high prevalence of epilepsy and persistent stigma in the Russian Federation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Following established cross-cultural adaptation guidelines, the Russian SOFSE was administered to 545 consecutively recruited adults with epilepsy (mean age 43.2 years; 53.9 % women) at a Level 2 Epilepsy Center, alongside the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and QOLIE-31. Factor structure (via confirmatory factor analysis), internal consistency (McDonald’s ω), and discriminant validity were assessed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional structure (RMSEA = 0.051; CFI = 0.955; TLI = 0.946). McDonald’s ω coefficients ranged from 0.51 (‘With a paying job’) to 0.80 (‘Instrumental Living Skills’), indicating adequate internal consistency overall, though somewhat lower for the employment-related subscale. Cluster analysis identified two groups with differential functional impairment (n = 352 vs. 193). Individuals in the impaired cluster demonstrated significantly poorer quality of life (QOLIE-31 total: 45.1 ± 29.5 vs. 61.9 ± 14.9; p &lt; 0.001) and higher levels of depressive (HADS-D: 8.4 ± 4.1 vs. 4.65 ± 3.3; p &lt; 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (HADS-A: 9.5 ± 4.4 vs. 6.4 ± 4.1; p &lt; 0.001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The Russian SOFSE shows overall adequate psychometric properties and is a clinically feasible instrument for assessing social functioning in PWE, although reliability was somewhat weaker for leisure and work-related items. Its strong association with depression and quality of life highlights the importance of routinely screening for psychiatric comorbidities – particularly depression – and integrating biopsychosocial interventions (e.g., psychological support, rehabilitation) to mitigate functional decline.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11847,"journal":{"name":"Epilepsy & Behavior","volume":"176 ","pages":"Article 110911"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146035066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}