The Treatment of Epilepsy: Principles and Practice

Despite the veritable spate of books on the epilepsies and individual aspects thereof over the past few years, the appearance of Wyllie's tome sets a new standard for comprehensiveness on the subject of treatment of epilepsy. The authorship includes 128 individuals, most of whom have made significant contributions in their individual areas of expertise. Yet, this book is much more than a Name-Dropper's Guide to the Galaxy of Epileptology. It brings together the collective experience of those actively engaged in both research and the clinical areas covered, providing a remarkably up-to-date account whose currency has been enhanced by the fast-track treatment of editor and publisher.

The book has six main sections. Section 1 is devoted to basic mechanisms including neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and principles of genetics and epidemiology. I found the chapters on the basic mechanisms of epileptogenesis and natural history of seizures of particular value in clarifying areas that frequently