Joel M. Reiter, MD, is Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Neurology Training, Emeritus, at UCSF - Santa Rosa Family Practice Residency. He conducted a private practice in Neurology for 35 years, devoting clinical and research time to investigating behavioral interventions that improve seizure control and quality of life for individuals with epilepsy. He is boarded in Neurology and received degrees from Harvard, NYU, and UCSF. In 1981, he and Dr. Donna Andrews founded the Andrews/Reiter Epilepsy Research Program. He subsequently published Epilepsy: A New Approach and other pioneering work; lectured internationally on neurobehavioral management of epilepsy; and served as the sole neurologist in Bhutan.

Donna Andrews, PhD, is Director of Therapy Research at the Andrews/Reiter Epilepsy Research Program. At age 18, she contracted viral encephalitis followed by complex partial seizures refractory to multiple antiepileptic medications. She had a unique insight that enabled her to achieve complete seizure control. She utilized this experience to develop treatment methods that allowed her to work effectively with thousands of patients. She and Dr. Reiter researched these methods and describe them in Taking Control of Your Seizures: Workbook. Dr. Andrews has a Master's in Rehabilitation Administration from the University of San Francisco; a Ph.D. in psychology from the SFPSP; and travels the globe to lecture and treat patients.

Charlotte Reiter, FNP, earned her B.S. in Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner certification from SSU where she was the first nursing graduate to be chosen as a commencement speaker. She brought skills honed developing patient education materials for UCSF's Family Practice residency program to writing and editing Taking Control of Your Epilepsy: A Workbook for Patients and Professionals. As a College FNP at Santa Rosa Junior College, she coordinated with the Enabling department to provide services for students with epilepsy and developmental disabilities. She edits publications for the Andrews/Reiter Epilepsy Research Program and writes/edits for the Tarayana Foundation, a Bhutanese nonprofit.

W. Curt LaFrance, Jr, MD, MPH, is Director of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology at Rhode Island Hospital (RIH) and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology at Alpert Medical School, Brown University. He is the neuropsychiatrist for the RIH Comprehensive Epilepsy Program and a faculty member of the Brown Institute for Brain Science. He studied at Wake Forest University (BA in psychology), Medical College of Georgia (MD), and Brown University (MPH). He trained in Brown's combined residency in neurology and psychiatry and is double boarded. His research is in neuropsychiatric aspects of epilepsy, somatoform disorders, and Traumatic Brain Injury. He is co-editor of Gates and Rowan's Nonepileptic Seizures.

• Contents


• Chapter 1 Introduction for Patients


• Chapter 2 Session 1: Making the Decision to Begin the Process of Taking Control


• Chapter 3 Session 2: Getting Support


• Chapter 4 Session 3: Deciding about your Medication Therapy


• Chapter 5 Session 4: Learning to Observe your Triggers


• Chapter 6 Session 5: Channeling Negative Emotions into Productive Outlets


• Chapter 7 Session 6: Relaxation Training


• Chapter 8 Session 7: Identifying your Pre-seizure Aura


• Chapter 9 Session 8: Dealing with External Life Stresses


• Chapter 10 Session 9: Dealing with Internal Issues and Conflicts


• Chapter 11 Session 10: Enhancing Personal Wellness


• Chapter 12 Session 11: Other Seizure Symptoms


• Chapter 13 Final reading: Taking Control: An On-Going Process


• Appendix I Biofeedback: Experiencing the Sensation of the Brain Changing Itself


• Appendix II YOGA by Rosa Michaelis


• Appendix III Meditation


• About the Authors