title: [Epilepsy--a review of its development in the world and in Croatia].
abstract: Development of studies in epilepsy is presented, primarily in Croatia and briefly with regard to the world. The first epileptology available to the author were those published in Liecnicki viestnik in 1887 by D. Forenbacher (1896), by J. Tyrman, and in 1900 by F. Gutschy. The names Julius, Lopasić, Jelasić appeared from 1937 to 1943. In 1953, initiated by Lopasić in cooperation with Julius and Glaser, the journal Neuropsihijatrija was founded, dealing with neurology, psychiatry and peripheral fields. Thus began a new era in publishing in the field of epilepsy. The first practice for epilepsy was set up in 1952 by Dogan and Hajnsek, assisted by Lopasić, when the first EEG device (Medcraft) became available through UNRRA. By 1956 it expanded into a Clinic for Epilepsy, led by Hajnsek, soon becoming a meeting place for all those interested in epilepsy in children and adults. After two wars of work, the first locally designed EEG devices, produced by Santić and Kolaj, were supplied to six laboratories in 1961 throughout Croatia. In 1962 a section for EEG and Clinical Neurophysiology was founded at the Medical Association of Croatia. That year the Clinic for Epilepsy became the Centre for Epilepsy. In 1964 Croatian Section for EEG and Clinical Neurophysiology was founded in Ohrid, which became very active, organizing a number of meetings and ten symposia throughout former Yugoslavia. In 1972, the Croatian League for providing help to those suffering from epilepsy was founded, functioning independently, and organizing meetings, symposia and participating in the education of what by then had become a significant number of epileptologists treating children and adults, indirectly participating in the organization of more than seventy EEG laboratories throughout Croatia. During the 1990s, the Croatian League against Epilepsy also gained its independence and, with the Croatian Society for Epilepsy, in 1998 became a member of the ILAE and IBE (International Federation League against Epilepsy and International Bureau for Epilepsy). Both organizations are involved in the global campaign against epilepsy, entitled "Out of the Shadows", organizing meetings on the classification of epilepsy, diagnosis, and use of new anti-epileptics alongside those already existing. By giving lectures in kindergartens, schools, on radio and television, they are providing assistance to those suffering from the disease, helping them deal with their socioeconomic problems, in schooling, employment, marriage, having children, appearing before courts, handling themselves in road traffic, and in everyday life.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dürrigl
mesh_terms: D017523:Croatia; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans