Issued 19 October 2010
MEDIA ADVSIORY NOTE
October focus on epilepsy research
Two foremost authorities on epilepsy, Professor Andrew Kanner from the United States and Professor Graham
Scambler from the United Kingdom will be international guest speakers at the Inaugural Epilepsy Symposium
in Brisbane next week (Wednesday 27 October 2010).
Prof Kanner specialises in the psychiatric aspects of epilepsy, the world’s most common serious brain disorder.
He is Senior Attending Physician in the department of Neurological Sciences at Rush University Medical
Center in Chicago, where he has been director of the Laboratory of Electroencephalography and Video-EEG-
Telemetry since 1991. He has co-edited six medical textbooks on epilepsy and his research in epilepsy
surgery, pharmacology and the brain disorder’s link with depressive disorders has been broadly published. His
presentation to the symposium will focus on epilepsy and depression, in particular the bidirectionality of these
two medical conditions (depression is more common in people with epilepsy, but also people with depression
may be more likely to develop epilepsy).
Prof Scambler is a medical sociologist from University College in London, best known for his work on the
social, psychological and quality of life issues associated with epilepsy. Prof Scambler will address the stigma
facing people with epilepsy, largely because of the seizures they experience, and behavioural implications.
Epilepsy Queensland Inc (EQI) will host the symposium in conjunction with Griffith University. Interested media
are invited to attend the symposium and/or arrange interviews with Prof Kanner and Prof Scambler during their
time in Australia (from 21 October, initially to address the 8th
Asian-Oceanian Epilepsy Congress in
Melbourne).
The Brisbane symposium will be held from 2pm on Wednesday 27 October 2010.
Venue: Russell Strong Auditorium, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba
Also addressing the symposium will be:
Assoc Professor Malcolm Hopwood (Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne
and a Director of the Brain Disorders Program and the Veterans Psychiatry Unit at Austin Health)
Professor Harry McConnell (Professor of Neuropsychiatry at Griffith University)
Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, Paul Lucas MP
EQI Patron and former rugby league star, Wally Lewis (one of the 2% of Queenslanders, or about
90,000 people, affected by epilepsy).
While in Brisbane, the symposium speakers will also address the 14th
Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists
Scientific Meeting, to be held from 28 to 30 October at the Brisbane Convention Centre. Epilepsy-related topics
to be discussed will include advances in medical treatments and the use of psychotropic drugs.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Media please call Helen Whitehead (CEO of EQI) on 0400 578 898 or Professor
Harry McConnell via 07 5678 0719
PROGRAM – INAUGURAL EPILEPSY SYMPOSIUM (Wednesday 27 October 2010 – Russell Strong
Auditorium, Princess Alexandra Hospital)
2.10pm
Welcome by Wally Lewis, EQI Patron
2.15pm
Prof Harry McConnell (Seizure site and type – relationship to behaviour, mental health and
treatment approaches)
3pm
Prof Andres Kanner (Bidirectional relation between epilepsy and depression and its implications
for the treatment of the two conditions)
3.45pm
The Hon Paul Lucas MP Deputy Premier - address
4.05pm
Assoc Prof Malcolm Hopwood (Epilepsy and other common mental health conditions – what
they are and how to treat them)
4.50pm
Prof Graham Scambler (Epilepsy and stigma – is it necessary to live in the shadows? What can
we do about it at an individual, school, workplace and community level?)
5.40pm
Questions to the panel
6pm
Close of seminar, followed at 6.30pm with presentation of EQI’s Annual Awards to recognise
people who have contributed to the epilepsy community
PROGRAM – EPILEPSY STREAM, 14th
PACIFIC RIM COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS SCIENTIFIC
MEETING (Thursday 28 October to 30 October 2010 – Brisbane Convention Centre: Epilepsy Stream is
on 28 October)
11.00 -12.30pm
Chair, Prof Harry McConnell
Prof Graham Scambler (Epilepsy and stigma interventions to reduce stigma in clinical
practice)
Assoc Prof Malcolm Hopwood (Epilepsy and psychosis)
Prof Andres Kanner (Bidirectional relation between epilepsy and depression and its
implications for the treatment of the two conditions)
Sandeep Bhutah (Neuroradiological correlates of neuropsychiatry and epilepsy)
1.30 – 3.00pm
Dr Dan McLaughlin (Advances in medical treatment of epilepsy)
Assoc Prof Malcolm Hopwood (Use of psychotropic drugs in people with epilepsy)
Dr Kate Riney (Sudden death associated with epilepsy)
Prof Harry McConnell (Psychiatric Co-morbidity and epilepsy treatment)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Media please call Helen Whitehead (CEO of EQI) on 0400 578 898 or Prof
Harry McConnell via 07 5678 0719
NEWS 
