Epilepsy remains the most common disorder encountered in neurological practice. The often-quoted prevalence of 50 million worldwide represents the tip of the iceberg considering the lack of accurate data on epilepsy from developing countries. However, in the past decade and a half, a significant amount of interesting research has originated from these countries, some of which are published in less widely distributed scientific journals hence not accessible to most epilepsy researchers and scholars. An updated and balanced understanding of the impact of epilepsy research on holistic health of affected individuals, including cognitive sequelae, cross-cultural differences in the management, social support, and the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) encountered in epilepsy research are topical and demands our attention.
It is important to mention that cross cultural and ELSI issues in epilepsy research are rarely discussed. This research therefore will provide information to bridge this knowledge gap and promote scientifically valid and ethically acceptable epilepsy research across cultures and disciplines. This Research Topic will focus on three major points:
1. the neuro-ethics of epilepsy research
2. the cross-cultural differences in epilepsy and its impact
3. the controversies and peculiarities on the care of patients with epilepsy (to cover cognitive profiles, laboratory investigations/results, etc.)
These topics will be discussed and presented by reviewing extant literature, current research, randomized and case-control studies, and conference presentations from expert scholars
This Research Topic will cover the peculiarities and challenges of conducting epilepsy research in developing countries, and will focus on the ethical, legal, and social issues encountered in epilepsy research, as well as explore the cross-cultural differences in research findings and how these influence management approach in different regions.
These topics will be discussed and presented by reviewing extant literature, current research, randomized and case-control studies, meta-analysis, and conference presentations from expert scholars. Thus, topic editors will welcome any types of manuscripts supported by the Journal – comprised of research article, brief research article, review, and mini-review – pertaining, but not limited to the following themes:
• Cognitive neurology of epilepsy: cognitive impairments in epilepsy, impact on academic, vocational, and socio-cultural life of affected persons
• Neuro-ethics: ethical, legal, and social issues encountered in research, including specific case scenarios to illustrate ethical concepts such as stigma, discrimination, exploitation, treatment gap, informed consent, and community engagement.
• Cross-cultural differences and controversies in management approaches
Conflicts of Interest :
Dr Olubunmi A Ogunrin received travel grants from Angellini Pharmaceuticals UK to attend neurology conference.
Dr Mark Kaddu Mukasa receives research support from the following research grants:
1. Research training and mentorship to strengthen brain health across the lifespan in Uganda. Project Number: D43NS118560; Funder; NINDS/NIH, USA
2. A Targeted Self-Management Intervention for Reducing Stroke Risk Factors in High-Risk Ugandans. Project Number: 1R01NS118544, Funder; NINDS/NIH, USA
3. Seizure frequency, Quality of Life and stigma reduction in people living with epilepsy; Project Number: 5K43TW010401-05; Funder Fogarty International/NINDS, NIH, USA."
Epilepsy remains the most common disorder encountered in neurological practice. The often-quoted prevalence of 50 million worldwide represents the tip of the iceberg considering the lack of accurate data on epilepsy from developing countries. However, in the past decade and a half, a significant amount of interesting research has originated from these countries, some of which are published in less widely distributed scientific journals hence not accessible to most epilepsy researchers and scholars. An updated and balanced understanding of the impact of epilepsy research on holistic health of affected individuals, including cognitive sequelae, cross-cultural differences in the management, social support, and the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) encountered in epilepsy research are topical and demands our attention.
It is important to mention that cross cultural and ELSI issues in epilepsy research are rarely discussed. This research therefore will provide information to bridge this knowledge gap and promote scientifically valid and ethically acceptable epilepsy research across cultures and disciplines. This Research Topic will focus on three major points:
1. the neuro-ethics of epilepsy research
2. the cross-cultural differences in epilepsy and its impact
3. the controversies and peculiarities on the care of patients with epilepsy (to cover cognitive profiles, laboratory investigations/results, etc.)
These topics will be discussed and presented by reviewing extant literature, current research, randomized and case-control studies, and conference presentations from expert scholars
This Research Topic will cover the peculiarities and challenges of conducting epilepsy research in developing countries, and will focus on the ethical, legal, and social issues encountered in epilepsy research, as well as explore the cross-cultural differences in research findings and how these influence management approach in different regions.
These topics will be discussed and presented by reviewing extant literature, current research, randomized and case-control studies, meta-analysis, and conference presentations from expert scholars. Thus, topic editors will welcome any types of manuscripts supported by the Journal – comprised of research article, brief research article, review, and mini-review – pertaining, but not limited to the following themes:
• Cognitive neurology of epilepsy: cognitive impairments in epilepsy, impact on academic, vocational, and socio-cultural life of affected persons
• Neuro-ethics: ethical, legal, and social issues encountered in research, including specific case scenarios to illustrate ethical concepts such as stigma, discrimination, exploitation, treatment gap, informed consent, and community engagement.
• Cross-cultural differences and controversies in management approaches
Conflicts of Interest :
Dr Olubunmi A Ogunrin received travel grants from Angellini Pharmaceuticals UK to attend neurology conference.
Dr Mark Kaddu Mukasa receives research support from the following research grants:
1. Research training and mentorship to strengthen brain health across the lifespan in Uganda. Project Number: D43NS118560; Funder; NINDS/NIH, USA
2. A Targeted Self-Management Intervention for Reducing Stroke Risk Factors in High-Risk Ugandans. Project Number: 1R01NS118544, Funder; NINDS/NIH, USA
3. Seizure frequency, Quality of Life and stigma reduction in people living with epilepsy; Project Number: 5K43TW010401-05; Funder Fogarty International/NINDS, NIH, USA."
