Early Drug Resistance in Focal Epilepsy Linked to Seizure Frequency and Psychiatric History: JAMA
Written By : Medha Baranwal
Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli
Published On 2025-09-02 14:45 GMT | Update On 2025-09-02 14:45 GMT
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Australia: A new study published in JAMA Neurology highlights that most people with newly diagnosed focal epilepsy take more than a year and often require multiple antiseizure medications (ASMs) to achieve seizure freedom. The research, led by Sarah N. Barnard and colleagues from the School of Translational Medicine at Monash University, further indicates that patients with frequent pretreatment seizures and psychiatric comorbidities are at greater risk of developing drug resistance.
"Patients with newly diagnosed focal epilepsy needed extended treatment—often exceeding a year and involving more than one ASM—to attain seizure freedom, while baseline seizure frequency and mental health issues were strong indicators of treatment resistance," the authors wrote.
The findings are from the Human Epilepsy Project, an international, prospective cohort study that followed participants across 34 epilepsy centers in the US, Australia, and Europe for up to six years. The study aimed to quantify treatment response and identify predictors of resistance among individuals with newly diagnosed focal epilepsy. Participants aged 12 to 60 years were enrolled within four months of initiating ASM therapy and closely monitored to assess outcomes using standardized definitions from the International League Against Epilepsy.
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