Mobile phone apps could greatly assist neurologists in tailoring treatment for patients with epilepsy, according to information published in the International Journal of Epilepsy. “Careful selection and application of epilepsy apps by the healthcare providers, epileptic patients, and their caregivers with proper understanding of their potential benefits, as well as limitations, will result in better diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment,” said Lakshmi Narasimhan Ranganathan, PhD, Associate Professor of Neurology at Madras Medical College in Chennai, India, and coauthors.
Apps like Dosecast–Medication Reminder include medication trackers, detect potential drug interactions, and remind patients to take their medicine on time. These features can increase the patients’ drug compliance, one of the biggest obstacles doctors face in treating epilepsy. Seizure diary apps (eg, Epilepsy Society app, My Epilepsy Diary) allow patients to record information that can facilitate the diagnosis of specific epileptic syndromes, depending on the time and frequency of seizures or abnormal behavior. Patients with epilepsy often forget this information, especially after an episode followed by loss of consciousness. Information in the form of a drug and seizure diary makes it possible for neurologists to titrate dosage and tailor the treatment plan to each patient’s disorder and needs.
Another uniquely useful aspect of mobile apps is seizure detection. Some apps use gyroscopes or accelerometers to detect repetitive and excessive movement, while other devices use live EEG skin-conductance detectors. One such app, Eppdetect, identifies a potential seizure if it senses 2–5-Hz frequency movements lasting longer than 10 seconds. Most apps also include GPS modules for detecting the location of the patient during a seizure and send real-time information to caregivers or doctors, thus allowing for faster and more efficient medical help. Smartwatches can be synched to phone apps, like Affectiva’s Q Sensor, which detects seizures using changes in galvanic skin response and can predict seizures before they occur. This feature allows patients to take medication or precautions to limit harm. It can also measure the magnitude of seizures, thus providing neurologists with quantitative readings that they can use to titrate antiepileptic drugs to be more effective and specific for each patient.
Current research shows that apps applied to seizure management have the capability to be automated drug monitoring and delivery devices, according to Dr. Ranganathan and colleagues. Mobile apps’ and devices’ current application and future potential show that they could be the next “gold standard” approach in epilepsy treatment.
—Evelyn Tran