Library: Information for General Audiences

Books

The Brainstorms Companion: Epilepsy in Our View
Steven C. Schacter, MD; 1995. A collection of personal stories from friends, family members, and colleagues of people with epilepsy that helps to shed light on the social consequences of epilepsy while increasing understanding of what's happening when a person has a seizure.

Brainstorms: Epilepsy in Our Words
Steven C. Schacter, MD; 1993. A collection of personal accounts of seizure activity from people with epilepsy that illustrates the wide range of experiences associated with seizures and epilepsy. Useful for people with epilepsy, health care providers, and families.

The Brainstorms Family: Epilepsy on Our Terms
Steven C. Schacter, MD, Georgia D. Montouris, MD, and John M. Pellock, MD; 1996. Stories by children with seizures and their parents that illustrate the frustrations and fears associated with the first seizure, diagnosis, treatment, and living with epilepsy.

The Brainstorms Healer: Epilepsy in Our Experience
Steven C. Schacter, MD and A. James Rowan, MD; 1998. Stories by health care providers about the challenges and triumphs they experience in working with patients with epilepsy; includes stories of health care providers who have seizures and come to understand first-hand the perspective of patients with epilepsy.

The Brainstorms Woman: Epilepsy in Our Lives
Steven C. Schacter, MD, Kaarkuzhali Babu Krishnamurthy, MD, and Deborah T. Combs Cantrell, MD; 2000. Stories by women with epilepsy that illustrate the impact of epilepsy on their roles as mothers, wives, and individuals; includes information on changes associated with hormones and concerns about pregnancy and sexuality.

Epilepsy: 199 Answers
Andrew N. Wilner, MD, FACP; 2003
Dr. Wilner responds to his patients' questions in this introductory guide for families and individuals with epilepsy.

Epilepsy A to Z: A Glossary of Epilepsy Terminology
Peter Kaplan, Pierre Loiseau, Robert Fisher, Pierrre Jallon; 1995. This 300-page glossary provides an easy way for anyone to find an explanation of an epilepsy-related term. It provides clear and thorough definitions and references for each term in case more in-depth information is needed.

Epilepsy and Seizures
Donald Weaver, MD; 2001. Intended for patients with epilepsy and their caregivers who want to become knowledgeable about the disorder so that they can take an active part in making decisions about treatment. Provides an overview of information currently available on epilepsy and offers practical advice on how to cope with the challenges it entails. Includes actual case studies, plus "take home points" at the end of each chapter for a quick and easy summary of the most important facts. 158-page soft-cover book.

Epilepsy and the Family
Richard Lechtenberg; 1999. This book answers many questions about the condition: its physical and psychological effects, its effect on the family, and its treatment. A useful resource of answers to questions that people with epilepsy and their families might not think to ask their doctors.

Epilepsy: A New Approach, 2nd Edition
Adrienne Richard & Joel Reiter, MD; 1995. A look at some of the techniques used by the author and others to recognize signs of approaching seizures and to exert greater personal control over having epilepsy. Discusses a variety of issues, including methods of stress reduction, nutrition, the value of exercises, environmental hazards, relaxation techniques and health of the whole person.

Epilepsy: Patient and Family Guide, 2nd Edition
Orrin Devinsky, MD; 2002. Epilepsy expert Dr. Orrin Devinsky provides a comprehensive and easy-to-read guide to understanding epilepsy and maintaining a high quality of life. Includes information on seizure types; factors that cause and prevent seizures; risks and benefits of various treatments for epilepsy; the potential impact of epilepsy on various aspects of life such as learning, behavior, employment, family, and mental health; and much more.

Living Well with Epilepsy, Second Edition
Robert J. Gumnit, MD; 1997. Learning to live with epilepsy requires many adjustments. Learning to live well with epilepsy requires "extra thought, good planning and realistic self-assessment." Encourages individuals to take charge of their lives and try new experiences to enrich existence. Contains chapters by leading epilepsy experts.

Managing Your Epilepsy
Ilo E. Leppik, MD; 2000. A compact but extremely valuable pocket guide. Written specifically for patients in a clear, reader-friendly style. Gives patients and their families the knowledge they need to best manage epilepsy. Contents include sections on: Epilepsy and Seizures; Epileptic Syndromes; Evaluating Seizures; Drug Treatment for Epilepsy; Surgical Treatment for Epilepsy; Other Treatment Options; Epilepsy and Quality of Life; Women and Epilepsy. Also contains a glossary of terms.

Videos

Healthy Body, Healthy Mind: Epilepsy Show - Through profiles of adults, seniors, and children with epilepsy, this video provides an overview of epilepsy, its treatment, first aid, and psychosocial issues. 27 minutes

How to Recognize and Classify Seizures – Leading experts discuss classification of seizures and epileptic syndromes. 2003, 25 minutes

Living With Epilepsy - features four adults who talk of changes in their lives because of epilepsy. 1991, 12 minutes

A Question of Epilepsy - addresses common epilepsy questions. 1989, 25 minutes

Seizure First Aid - shows both footage of actual seizures and reenactments to demonstrate proper first aid procedures. 1992, 10 minutes

Understanding Seizure Disorders - explores and explains different types of seizures. 1990, 11 minutes

Understanding Seizures and Epilepsy – uses seizure footage and interviews to help the viewer learn how to recognize different types of seizures and respond appropriately. 2003, 11 minutes

The World of Epilepsy - includes seizure footage, interviews with patients and medical experts, and narration to provide an overview of epilepsy. 2006, 1 hour

Brochures, Booklets, Fact Sheets, and Other Materials

• About and For The Epilepsy Foundation
• Epilepsy Fact Sheet
• Epilepsy: First Aid for Seizures (Pocket Card)
• Epilepsy: Part of Your Life
• Epilepsy: You and Your Treatment
• Living with Epilepsy
• Parenting and You: A Guide for Parents with Seizure Disorders
• Questions & Answers About Epilepsy
• Safety and Seizures (Tips)
• Seizure Recognition and First Aid
• Seizures and Epilepsy
• Seizures and Safety
• Talking to Your Doctor