SIG | Neuroendocrinology: The Impact of Stress on Epilepsy Outcomes

Sunday, December 5, 2021
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OVERVIEW:

This Special Interest Group explores the impact of stress on epilepsy treatment outcomes.  

Stress is a common trigger for seizures and stress hormone levels are elevated in people with epilepsy. The body’s physiological response to stress is mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This leads to elevated levels of stress hormones and is implicated in worsening epilepsy outcomes. This session highlights clinical and preclinical evidence supporting the negative impact of stress on epilepsy outcomes and discuss potential mechanisms and therapeutic strategies to mitigate these effects.  

Presenters discuss:  

  1. The evidence supporting the relationship between stress and seizures/epilepsy in both animals and humans. This presentation focuses on human data from prospective seizure diary studies as well as the results of randomized controlled trials of stress management for the treatment of refractory epilepsy 
  2. The role of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in epileptogenesis/status epilepticus as well as the use of GR modulators to mitigate the development of epilepsy and behavioral comorbidities associated with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) 
  3. The negative consequences of seizure-induced activation of the HPA axis on seizure frequency, psychiatric comorbidities in chronically epileptic mice, and vulnerability to Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) 

Learning Objectives:

Following participation in this activity, participants will be able to: 

  • Describe the diverse implications of stress and HPA axis dysfunction in epilepsy outcomes, including effects on seizure burden, neuropathology, associated psychiatric comorbidities, and SUDEP 

  • Discuss the potential of stress management in the treatment strategy for people with epilepsy 

  • Recognize potential mechanisms mediating the negative impact of stress on epilepsy outcomes 

Program:

SIG Coordinators: Alison Pack, MD, MPH, Jamie Maguire, PhD, and Catherine Christian-Hinman, PhD 

Chair: Alison Pack, MD, MPH 

The Relationship Between Stress, Seizures, and Epilepsy | Sheryl Haut, MD 

The Role of the Glucocorticoid Receptor in the Development of Epilepsy and Behavioral Comorbidities | Aynara Wulsin, BS 

HPA Axis Dysfunction Contributes to Negative Outcomes in Epilepsy, including Psychiatric Comorbidities and SUDEP | Jamie Maguire, PhD 
 

Activity Type
Special Interest Group
Credit
Non-CME
Format
In person
Career Stage
Early Career (typically 0-5 years from completion of training)
Mid-Career (typically 6-15 years from completion of training)
Senior (typically >15 years from completion of training)
Audience
Advanced Practice Providers
Behavioral Health Providers
Clinicians
Fellows/Trainees
Nurses
Pharmacists
Scientists/Researchers
Technicians
Demographic
Clinical
First-time Attendees
Research
Young Professionals