Boulenouar Mesraoua1, Najib Kissani2, Dirk Deleu3, Lubna Elsheikh4, Musab Ali5, Gayane Melikyan6, Hassan Al Hail7, Samuel Wiebe8, Ali A Asadi-Pooya9. 1. Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, Qatar. Electronic address: boulenouar.mesraoua@wanadoo.fr. 2. University Hospital Mohammed VI, Marrakech, Morocco. Electronic address: najibkis@gmail.com. 3. Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, Qatar. Electronic address: Ddeleu@hamad.qa. 4. Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address: LElSheikh@hamad.qa. 5. Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. Electronic address: MAli40@hamad.qa. 6. Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, Qatar. Electronic address: GMELIKYAN@hamad.qa. 7. Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, Qatar. Electronic address: HALHAIL1@hamad.qa. 8. Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada. Electronic address: swiebe@ucalgary.ca. 9. Epilepsy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA. Electronic address: aliasadipooya@yahoo.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to provide the reader with a review on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatment in epilepsy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, to describe the extent and factors associated with its use among patients with epilepsy (PWE), and to recommend how effectively we will be able to reduce this alarming use. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective literature search from 1945 to December 2019, regarding CAM use in the MENA region, using electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science). CONCLUSION: The use of CAM and consultation of traditional healers for the treatment of epilepsy has so far been widespread practice for centuries in the MENA region. Lack of health professionals and non-adherence to conventional epilepsy treatment are strongly associated with the use of CAM. Improvement in the level of knowledge of epilepsy among PWE, healthcare professionals, including traditional healers, will educate PWE and their caregivers on potentially unsafe practices and promote adherence to Antiseizure Drugs (ASDs). Additionally, randomized controlled trials are needed to study the role and value of various CAM treatment options in PWEs.
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to provide the reader with a review on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatment in epilepsy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, to describe the extent and factors associated with its use among patients with epilepsy (PWE), and to recommend how effectively we will be able to reduce this alarming use. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective literature search from 1945 to December 2019, regarding CAM use in the MENA region, using electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science). CONCLUSION: The use of CAM and consultation of traditional healers for the treatment of epilepsy has so far been widespread practice for centuries in the MENA region. Lack of health professionals and non-adherence to conventional epilepsy treatment are strongly associated with the use of CAM. Improvement in the level of knowledge of epilepsy among PWE, healthcare professionals, including traditional healers, will educate PWE and their caregivers on potentially unsafe practices and promote adherence to Antiseizure Drugs (ASDs). Additionally, randomized controlled trials are needed to study the role and value of various CAM treatment options in PWEs.