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Research Projects
Epidemiologic and population studies
Health care/health outcome studies
Self-management studies
Completed
Current
Quality of life
Mental Health
Comorbidity
Epidemiologic and population studies
Recently Completed
Unprovoked seizure and epilepsy in Washington Heights/Inwood, New York
City: incidence, prevalence, and patterns of care
Principal Investigator: Dale Hesdorffer, MPH, PhD
Columbia University
New York, NY
The objectives of this study include:
- estimating the incidence of epilepsy in a racially and ethnically
diverse population;
- describing the distribution of incident cases by age, sex, race,
ethnicity, and socio-economic status, as well as by the type and cause of
the seizure; and
- describing patterns of care in this community.
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Prevalence of epilepsy in minority inner city populations
Principal Investigator: W. Allen Hauser, MD
Columbia University
New York, NY
The objectives of this study were to describe:
- the prevalence of epilepsy and other seizure disorders,
- epilepsy risk factors and etiologies,
- the distribution of seizure types and syndromes, and
- patterns of epilepsy care in predominantly minority populations
(Washington Heights and Central Harlem communities of New York City).
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Medical University of South Carolina epidemiological studies of
epilepsy and seizure disorder
Principal Investigator: Anbesaw Selassie, DrPH
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC
The objectives of this project were to:
- estimate the incidence and prevalence of epilepsy in a state
population,
- describe the distribution of epilepsy cases by cause and seizure type,
and
- qualitatively assess the service needs of people with epilepsy.
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) follow-up registry, and surveillance of
TBI in the emergency department
Principal Investigator: Anbesaw Selassie, DrPH
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC
Funded by CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control,
the South Carolina Traumatic Brain Injury Registry and Follow-up System was a
collaboration of the Medical University of South Carolina and the South
Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. This system
conducted public health surveillance of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in
South Carolina to assess the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of these
injuries. The CDC Epilepsy Program provided additional funding for this
system to evaluate epilepsy, both as a risk factor for TBI and as an outcome
of TBI.
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Population-Based Studies of Epilepsy in the District of Columbia
Principal Investigator: Barbara L. Kroner, PhD
Research Triangle Institute, Rockville, MD
By means of a telephone-based survey, this research will characterize the
prevalence and public health burden of epilepsy in the population of
Washington, DC.
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Prevalence of Epilepsy in Rural Kansas
Principal Investigator: W. Allen Hauser, MD
Columbia University, New York, NY
Co-investigator: Angelia M. Paschal, PhD
University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, KS
Using multiple sources for case ascertainment, this research will
characterize the prevalence and public health burden of epilepsy in a rural
population of southeastern Kansas.
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Geographic Variation in Epilepsy Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Principal Investigator: Maria Pisu, PhD
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
This study will examine the prevalence of epilepsy, quality of care, and
outcomes in older adults in the United States, using Medicare claims data.
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Current
Developing a single assay to detect both neurocysticercosis and
taeniasis
Principal Contact: Patricia P. Wilkins, Ph.D.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne,& Enteric Diseases
Atlanta, GA
Cysticercosis is a growing public health problem in the United States.
This central nervous system infection (neurocysticercosis) causes seizures,
hydrocephalus, and serious disability. One of the most well characterized
tests for neurocysticercosis is the immunoblot that was developed at CDC.
Although this method is considered by many to be the gold standard for
laboratory diagnosis of neurocysticercosis, standardization and other issues
have limited its usefulness. CDC is working to develop a single assay to
detect both neurocysticercosis and taeniasis that is easily transferable to
laboratories within the U.S. and throughout the world.
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Examining the Validity of Community-Based Screening
Questions for Assessing Epilepsy
The main objective of this project is to assess the validity of the set
of five epilepsy-related survey questions developed by the CDC Epilepsy
Program for use in the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System.
Principal
Investigator: Lewis Kazis, ScD
Boston University
School of Public Health
Boston MA
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Prevalence of Epilepsy Along the Arizona-Mexico
Border
The main objective of this study is to broaden knowledge of the
epidemiology of epilepsy among U.S. populations, with an emphasis on
populations not previously studied and on potentially underserved
populations.
Principal Investigator: David Labiner, MD
University of
Arizona
College of Medicine
Tucson, AZ
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Healthcare/Outcome Studies
Examining epilepsy
care using a multifaceted approach
Principal Investigator: Lewis Kazis, ScD
Boston University School of Public Health
Boston MA
The objectives of this study are to:
- develop criteria to assess the quality of care for treating adults
diagnosed with epilepsy and identifying outcome measures to assess the
impact of these best practices;
- develop a patient-centered questionnaire regarding quality of care;
and
- apply the quality of care criteria and administer the patient-centered
questionnaire to a cohort of epilepsy patients.
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South Carolina Health Outcomes Project on Epilepsy
Principal Investigator: Anbesaw Selassie, DrPH
Medical University of South
Carolina
Charleston, SC
The purpose of this project is to assess socioeconomic and other factors
that contribute to health disparities and affect health outcomes among
people with epilepsy living in 15 counties in South Carolina.
The study protocol will involve:
- recruiting a cohort of people with epilepsy,
identified from a random sample of persons with epilepsy or seizure(s),
ascertained from an existing statewide epilepsy surveillance system,
- conducting telephone interviews of participants to obtain demographic,
socioeconomic, health care, health outcome, and quality-of-life data, and
- analyzing collected data to assess determinants of outcomes among
people with epilepsy.
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Socioeconomic Status, Health Care Use, and Outcomes in Epilepsy
Principal Investigator: Charles Begley, PhD
University of Texas at Houston School of Public Health
Houston, Texas
The purpose of this project is to assess the relationships between
demographic variables, socioeconomic status, health care use, cost, and
outcomes in a diverse population of people with epilepsy.
Methods to accomplish this will include:
- adapting an established general model of health care use as a
framework for the study of health care use and outcomes in epilepsy,
- conducting a one-year prospective study of health care use and
outcomes in a cohort of people with epilepsy, and
- analyzing collected data pertaining to the determinants of outcomes
among people with epilepsy.
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Self-management studies
Completed
Improving self-management among persons with epilepsy
Principal investigator: Michael Pramuka, PhD
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh
Medical School
3811 O'Hara Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of psychosocial
interventions on the intrapersonal attributes and quality of life of adults
with epilepsy.
The project aims are to:
- evaluate the effectiveness of a six-week psychosocial group
model;
- evaluate the cost and feasibility of the intervention;
- monitor longer-term impact on participants over 6 months to 1
year; and
- disseminate the self-management program activities and results
via the University of Pittsburgh Prevention Research Center.
Current
Managing Epilepsy Well: Network for Epilepsy Self-Management
Center 1—Emory University: Prevention Research Center
(Coordinating Center)
Center 2—University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston:
University of Texas Prevention Research Center (Collaborating Center)
Principal Investigator: Colleen K. DiIorio, cdiiori@sph.emory.edu
Project Identifier: SIP 05-07 Managing Epilepsy Well: Network for
Epilepsy Self-Management Coordinating Center and SIP 06-07 Managing
Epilepsy Well: Network for Epilepsy Self-Management
The Managing Epilepsy Well (MEW) network is intended to address
research priority areas identified during Living Well with Epilepsy II,
the second national conference on public health and epilepsy, which
relate to self-management. The network will develop and implement a
coordinated applied research agenda; conduct research activities that
promote self-management and quality of life in home, community, or
clinical settings; and work with public health , mental health, social
services agencies and other partners to implement and accelerate the
dissemination of activities. The goal of the MEW network is to increase
the number of tested epilepsy self-management programs available to
health care providers and members of the epilepsy community.
Individual Center Projects
Evaluating the effectiveness of two epilepsy self-management
programs
Emory University: Prevention Research Center
Principal Investigator: Dr. Colleen K. DiIorio,
cdiiori@sph.emory.edu
Two epilepsy self-management interventions, WebEase and Project
UPLIFT, will be tested with older adolescents and adults with
epilepsy. WebEase is a 6-week Web-based program comprising three
2-week modules on medication, stress, and sleep management.
Researchers will determine if users of WebEase show improvement in
epilepsy-related knowledge, medication adherence, stress management,
sleep time, and quality of life. Project UPLIFT is an 8-week program
that will be delivered by the Internet or by telephone to people
with epilepsy who want to reduce their depression. Researchers will
determine if participants show improvement in depressive symptoms;
self-perceptions of quality of life, satisfaction with life,
self-compassion, purpose in life, sleep time and quality; and
knowledge and skills related to mindfulness and depression.
Assessing the Effects of Epilepsy Self-Management
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston: University of
Texas Prevention Research Center
Principal Investigator: Dr. Charles E. Begley, Charles.E.Begley@uth.tmc.edu
Results from this study are intended to form a foundation for
developing effective behavioral interventions to improve
self-management for people with epilepsy.
The project will examine predictors of self-management behavior in
epilepsy (attitudes, and social, behavioral, and environmental
factors), and their associations with treatment adherence (e.g.
blood anti-epileptic drug [AED] levels and days missed taking AEDS),
and health outcomes (e.g., ER visits, seizure control, quality of
life, and functional status) in a sociodemographically diverse
population of people with epilepsy. The project will work with an
already identified 1-year cohort of 450 patients with epilepsy from
two clinical sites in Houston, TX. The complementary data on
self-management and drug levels will be merged with the longitudinal
data already collected on drug taking behavior, acute health care
use, and health outcomes.
Prevention research centers special interest projects: "Biological,
behavioral and psychosocial interventions in epilepsy: the assessment of
self-management programs"
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Use of computer technology to develop a
theory-driven, interactive self-management program for adults with epilepsy
The main objective of this project is to develop one or more
computer-based, theory-driven epilepsy self-management programs for adults
with epilepsy.
Principal Investigator: Colleen DiIorio, PhD RN
Emory
University
School of Public Health
Atlanta, GA
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Quality of Life
California Health Interview Survey: epilepsy and health-related
quality of life
Interagency agreement with the National Cancer Institute
Point of contact: David Grant, PhD
UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
10911 Weyburn Avenue, Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90024
The California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) was initiated by the
California Dept. of Health Services' Center for Health Statistics, the
Public Health Institute, and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
CHIS is an random-digit dialed telephone survey of 55,000 households
designed to provide population-based, standardized state and local-level
health data. The purpose of this project is to obtain population-based
estimates of the prevalence of epilepsy and the burden of impaired quality
of life among persons with epilepsy; to obtain epilepsy-related data in
racial/ethnic populations that are inadequately monitored by any current
national or state survey; and to identify health disparities and unmet needs
associated with the disorder.
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Mental Health
Using Distance Technology for Treating Depression in
People with Epilepsy
Principal Investigator: Nancy Thompson, PhD.
Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health
Atlanta, GA The study develops a
small-group, cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness intervention that
can be delivered to patients with epilepsy via conference call or the
Internet, to help alleviate and manage symptoms of depression.
Intervention Research on Home-Based Depression Treatment in People with
Epilepsy
Principal Investigator: Paul Ciechanowski, MD
University of Washington, Dept. of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Seattle, WA The study tests the
effectiveness of an intervention--Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding
Lives for Seniors (PEARLS) in adults with epilepsy who have minor depression, major
depression and/or dysthymia, using a randomized controlled trial to
determine the intervention's acceptability, feasibility, and outcomes in
preparation for subsequent community-based dissemination.
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Comorbidity California Health Interview Survey 2005:
Epilepsy, Psychological Distress, and Disease Comorbidity
Principal Investigator David Grant, PhD—e-mail: dgrant@ucla.edu
University of California, Los Angeles
Improving access to psychiatric care in people with epilepsy was identified
as a priority area at the 2003 2nd National Conference on Public Health and
Epilepsy. Determining the level of psychological distress with a validated
mental illness instrument (Kessler 6 scale), and the level of perceived need
and use of mental health services among community-dwelling adults with
epilepsy will identify the burden of unmet mental health need in this
population. Data from the 2003 and 2005 California Health Interview Survey
will be examined to assess epilepsy prevalence, and its associations with
psychological distress, and chronic disease comorbidity.
Page last modified: 11/13/2007
Page last reviewed: 11/13/2007
Content source: Division of Adult
and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion |
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