Children With Seizure-Related Disease, Annotated Bibliography Example

Cilio, M. R., Thiele, E. A., & Devinsky, O. (2014). The case for assessing cannabidiol in epilepsy. Epilepsia.

This article addresses the significance of cannabidiol (CBD) in the treatment of epilepsy, given the patient’s symptoms and the quality of life that is experienced. Since evidence regarding this usage is largely mixed, it represents a challenge to evaluate because of the negative connotations and properties related to cannabis use, even for medical purposes. However, epilepsy has a significant impact on cognition and behavior throughout the life span, thereby requiring an examination of the different aspects that may have a lasting impact on care and treatment for this patient population, given the issues that are likely to occur with these patients as they seek treatments that will improve their quality of life. This study also supports the examination of evidence in order to address the potential for future clinical trials in this area to further determine efficacy.

Lorentzos, M. (2014). Weeding out the Evidence. Retrieved from http://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/files/attachments/marijuana_in_epilepsy_nov_14.pdf

This article addresses the importance of the decision-making process in determining how to address epilepsy and other seizure-related disorders appropriately and without delays in order to prevent lasting complications. Most importantly, it is necessary to develop strategies that will encompass a variety of options for patients and that will enable parents to make effective decisions regarding treatments for their children when the evidence is available. The discussion references mixed support for the use of cannabis in treating epilepsy due to “improved and worsened seizure control” in this patient population (p. 10). Therefore, it is important to determine if there are any other factors that may be key contributors to a patient’s response to cannabis to treat epilepsy, including possible lifestyle factors that many impact the life span.

Maa, E., & Figi, P. (2014). The case for medical marijuana in epilepsy. Epilepsia.

This article addresses the importance of marijuana use in treating epilepsy in order to reduce the number of seizures that many patients have, including those who have multiple seizures per day. This article offers a case study of a young girl with SCNIA-confirmed Dravet Syndrome who experienced up to 50 tonic-clonic seizures per day by the age of 5, and to date, none of the medications that she was prescribed had been successful in minimizing the extent of her seizures. By treating the patient with cannabis, it was determined that she could experience some degree of normalcy in her life through the minimization of her seizure events, along with weaning her off of her other epileptic drugs. Most importantly, the patient now only suffers from 2-3 nocturnal seizures per month and continues to improve in other areas, including her activities of daily living. This article demonstrates that cannabis use under controlled conditions may be effective in the treatment of epilepsy for many patients, including young children who may have no other options to improve their quality of life.

Miller, J. W. (2013). Slim evidence for cannabinoids for epilepsy. Epilepsy Currents, 13(2), 81-82.

This article addresses the importance of marijuana and its “anti-epileptic effects in animals” (p. 81, para. 1) in order to further examine its impact on human health and wellbeing, particularly for patients who have epilepsy. Most importantly, it is important to evaluate the use of cannabis in treating some patients with epilepsy in a controlled setting in order to prevent seizures, but to monitor these patients accordingly in order to prevent any lasting complications or any signs of an increase in seizures. Although there is evidence to suggest that treating seizures with cannabis is a viable alternative, this does not preclude that it should be used in all cases or that all patients will be successful candidates in this regard; therefore, additional studies must be examined that will identify the benefits of cannabis use for epileptic patients so that its impact over the long term is better understood from the researcher and practitioner points of view.

Porter, B. E., & Jacobson, C. (2013). Report of a parent survey of cannabidiol-enriched cannabis use in pediatric treatment-resistant epilepsy. Epilepsy & Behavior, 29(3), 574-577.

This article addresses the significance of treating epilepsy in children that is resistant to other forms of treatment by using cannabis as another alternative. For a group of 19 patients who had tried 12 different treatments in the past with little or no success, the administration of cannabis was effective in reducing seizures significantly by as much as 80 percent. This article supports the continued growth and evaluation of cannabis as a possible treatment for marijuana in patients who face epilepsy and related seizures with little if any relief from other treatments. Therefore, these factors must be considered as part of a larger treatment strategy that will be effective in supporting the treatment of epilepsy through the use of cannabis under controlled conditions which are highly monitored and also meet the standards required of each state where this type of treatment is permissible.

Conclusion

Based upon the evidence that has been provided in the annotated bibliography, it is important to identify the individual nature of each patient’s condition in order to support marijuana as an effective alternative treatment method, including the frequency of the treatment and its lasting impact on each patient. Research in this area will likely to have a lasting impact on the decisions that are made regarding the treatment of epilepsy and other seizure disorders in the event that traditional treatments are ineffective in managing the condition effectively and efficiently over time. In particular, children who experience epilepsy and related seizures may have an opportunity to benefit from its use under some conditions that are highly controlled and permissible by law in order to experience some degree of relief in response to the disease and its symptoms.

In these cases, the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes represents numerous benefits to patients with epilepsy and other seizure disorders in their efforts to achieve greater quality of life while facing a disease of this nature. It is important to evaluate how this treatment will impact patients favorably and to address prior research in this area so that in states where this type of treatment is permissible, it is pursued accordingly so that there are options available to treat those who experience seizures on a frequent basis and who face these risks throughout their lives. Patients of all age groups are likely to benefit from these conditions and will experience some degree of relief from seizures; therefore, this treatment must be pursued in states where this is a viable option and is legal under specific conditions.

Most importantly, patients who face a high level of risk with a diagnosis of epilepsy must continue to explore new options to ensure that their needs are met effectively, and medical marijuana is one feasible alternative. However, the issues surrounding the legality of this option in many states continue to be a problem, thereby creating a limited number of opportunities for many patients who have epilepsy and for which traditional treatments have been largely unsuccessful. This process requires each state to examine its position with respect to the acceptance and legality of medical marijuana in an effort to produce viable outcomes and to reflect upon the challenges related to the treatment of this patient population in an effective manner. This process should not specifically rely on traditional treatment methods that have been unsuccessful in the past, as this reflects the importance of legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes to support many patients in need of treatments that will be successful in treating epilepsy and other conditions.