Epilepsy & Seizure Care
Experts in diagnosing seizure, epilepsy medication and more
Comprehensive Epilepsy Program in Boston
The Comprehensive Epilepsy Program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is recognized as one of the leading epilepsy centers in the United States. Established nearly 40 years ago, our program has a long tradition of innovation, compassionate care, and leadership in the diagnosis and treatment of seizure disorders.
BIDMC holds a Level 4 designation from the National Association of Epilepsy Centers — the highest level awarded — signifying our expertise in providing the most advanced medical, surgical, and neurodiagnostic care available for epilepsy.
As part of a major academic medical center and teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, we’re at the forefront of the latest technologies and therapies, continually advancing the science and care of epilepsy through research, education, and clinical innovation.
Our specialists provide epilepsy and seizure care in every setting — outpatient, emergency, inpatient, and neurology intensive care — ensuring continuity of care at every stage.
Understanding Seizures & Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes seizures. Causes of epilepsy include genetic disorders or traumatic brain injury (TBI).
When to Seek Emergency Care
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if you or someone you know has these symptoms:
- A seizure that lasts more than five minutes
- Multiple seizures that happen closely together
- Inability to full wake up between seizures, choking or breathing problems during a surgery
- Head injury during a seizure
- Loss of bladder or bowel control during a seizure
More About Epilepsy & Seizure Care
You’ll benefit from the collaboration of specialists throughout BIDMC who come together to provide multidisciplinary epilepsy care. We hold weekly conferences to discuss treating complex or treatment-resistant seizure disorders.
The leader of your care team will be your epileptologist. This is a neurologist who has years of specialized training and experience in treating all types of epilepsy and seizures.
Depending on your needs, your care team may also include these or other specialists:
- Cognitive neurologist
- Neuroendocrinologist
- Neurosurgeons specializing in epilepsy-related procedures
- Clinical neuropsychologist
- Neuropsychiatrists
- Social workers
- Nurses specializing in clinical epilepsy care
- Neuroradiologists
- Neurodiagnostic technologists
Your neurologist will use a combination of these neurologic screening tests to diagnose your condition:
- Neurological exam
- Clinical consultations to determine the genetic or developmental causes of epilepsy
- Blood tests
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Take-home EEG monitoring
- Intracranial EEG recording
- CT scan
- MRI
- Functional MRI (fMRI)
- Nuclear medicine imaging such as these:
- Positron emission tomography (PET)
- Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT)
- Neuropsychological tests
The goal of treatment is to manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Your care team will base your treatment on your condition, symptoms, health history and other factors. Treatment may include one or more of these options:
- Anti-seizure medications
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
- Laser ablation (use of laser to destroy brain cells causing your seizures)
- Laser interstitial thermal therapy, or LITT (use of heat to destroy brain cells causing seizures)
- Noninvasive brain stimulation such as these:
- Vagus nerve stimulation
- Neurostimulation
- Resection of seizure focus (removal of a small area of the brain where seizures occur)
- Stereotactic radiosurgery
Trusted Care for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
We are experts in the care of drug-resistant epilepsy. Learn how we bring hope to people and families with this complex condition.
Specialty Epilepsy Programs
We offer specialty epilepsy programs:
We also provide clinical consultations for seizures in older adults.
Clinical Trials
BIDMC researchers are continually working to find new and effective ways to manage epilepsy and seizures. Ask your epilepsy care team if there’s a current clinical trial that might be right for you.
Our team provides education and support for you and your family. Our goal is to educate you and your family so you can make informed decisions about your care. We seek to empower you to take charge of your medical condition. Our epilepsy nurses play an important role in this process.
Ongoing education includes these and other steps:
- Counseling about women’s health topics:
- Contraception
- Hormones
- Pregnancy
- First aid for seizures and seizure emergency plans
- Medication adherence
- Medication interactions
- Prognosis of seizures and epilepsy
- Potential medication side effects:
- Effects on memory
- Mood
- Physical effects (weight and bone health)
- Thinking
- Seizure safety, including driving
- Seizure triggers
- Seizure types and epilepsy syndromes
- Tools to manage seizures
Our dedicated epilepsy nurse specialists and affiliated psychiatrist and neuropsychologist offer counseling, education and support. We encourage you and your family to visit our dedicated epilepsy resource room.
Advancing Care, Research & Education
Department of Neurology
The Department of Neurology offers exceptional patient care, education opportunities and research programs.
Neurology Research
Our top-tier research programs and laboratories work to advance the knowledge and treatment of neurological disorders.
Neurology Education
Our team offers comprehensive education and training programs for healthcare professionals, including fellowships and residencies.
