title: Bringing epilepsy out of the shadows in New Zealand.
abstract: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder. Most patients with epilepsy have seizures that are relatively easily controlled, but a significant minority of patients have seizures that are resistant to standard anti-epileptic drugs. The New Zealand chapter of the International League against epilepsy (NZLAE) has recently been formed to improve the care of patients with epilepsy in New Zealand. NZLAE intends to work with the lay group, Epilepsy New Zealand to help raise the profile of epilepsy within the general community, and to improve access to some of the newer drugs that are not currently available here. NZLAE is also keen to promote research into epilepsy in New Zealand, and members have recently started recruiting patients for several research projects.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Auckland City Hospital, Private Bag 92024, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. pbergin@adhb.govt.nz
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bergin
authors.forename: Lynette G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Sadleir
authors.forename: Elizabeth B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000592:standards*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic