Epilepsy, Seizures, and Sleep Disorders
A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 126
Special Issue Editors
Interests: epilepsy; electroencephalography; relationship between sleep; sleep–wake rhythm; clinical; laboratory; electroencephalographic characteristics and cognitive functions in patients with genetic generalized epilepsy
Interests: sleep–wake rhythm (circadian) disorders in neurological diseases; sleep-related biomarkers in the early detection and management of neurodegenerative disorders; sleep-related wearables and AI-based innovations
Interests: epilepsy; electroencephalography; relationship between sleep; sleep–wake rhythm; clinical; laboratory; electroencephalographic characteristics and cognitive functions in patients with genetic generalized epilepsy
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The global burden of neurological disorders is substantially growing. As mentioned in the World Health Organization’s new Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders 2022–2031, future specialists should focus on prevention and effective management of the most common neurological diseases, such as stroke, dementia, headaches, and epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a frequent neurological disease that significantly decreases the quality of life (QoL), especially in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. Epileptic seizures (ESs), particularly those with impaired consciousness, falls, or inappropriate behavior, complicate the QoL and can be life-threatening. Coexisting comorbidities, including sleep disorders, can significantly affect seizure frequency and QoL. Sleep complaints are highly prevalent in epilepsy patients and are about twice as common as in healthy individuals. The interactions between sleep and epilepsy are complex. Sleep alteration negatively impacts seizure control; sleep deprivation is a key trigger of genetically generalized epilepsies. As a further point in this complex relationship, ES may occur exclusively during sleep, complicating the diagnosis of sleep disorders such as parasomnias. This complexity is compounded by the adverse effects of antiseizure medications, which can lead to disturbed nighttime sleep and daytime sleepiness. The bidirectional relationship between sleep and epilepsy significantly impacts sleep health and epilepsy outcomes. Therefore, improving sleep quality may constitute a way to improve the global management of patients with epilepsy.
Over the past few years, the relationship between sleep and epilepsy has increased interest among the sleep and epileptology research communities. A better understanding of this interrelation seems important in both the fields of epileptology and sleep physiology. With this Special Issue dedicated to epilepsy and sleep disorders, we would like to invite scientific and clinical experts to publish their original research papers as well as reviews about the interplay between epilepsy and disturbed sleep, sleep–wake rhythm biomarkers in various neurological disorders, and their role in disease prevention and management. In this Special Issue, we would like to highlight the role of circadian biomarkers in the early diagnostics of Parkinson’s disease and dementias, as well as the potential of light therapy and melatonin-based interventions for challenges in narcolepsy and other central hypersomnia diagnostics and management.
Prof. Dr. Giedrė Jurkevičienė
Dr. Evelina Pajediene
Prof. Dr. Renata Balnyte
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- epilepsy
- seizure
- antiseizure medications
- adverse effects of anti-seizure medications
- quality of life
- electroencephalography
- sleep
- sleep disorders
- insomnia
- daytime sleepiness
- sleep–wake rhythm
- circadian
- hypersomnia
- narcolepsy
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Planned Papers
The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.
Title: Effects of antiseizure medications on sleep complaints (insomnia, daytime sleepiness) in patients with epilepsy
Authors: Giedrė Jurkevičienė
Affiliation: /
Title: Central hypersomnias diagnostics and management; Sleep-wake rhythm biomarkers in an early Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Evelina Pajėdienė
Affiliation: /
Title: The associations between sleep quality, hygiene and demographic, clinical, laboratory, instrumental investigation characteristics in patients with genetic generalized epilepsy
Authors: Dovydas Burkojus
Affiliation: /
Abstract: /
Title: Epilepsy, EEG and sleep: effects and relations
Authors: Giedrė Gelžinienė
Affiliation: /
Title: Drug management for acute seizures in children
Authors: Rūta Samaitienė-Aleknienė
Affiliation: /
