The Nonepileptic Seizures Treatment (NEST) Clinic at Rush offers a highly effective, evidence-based and comprehensive treatment program for patients whose lives are affected by nonepileptic seizures (NES). Housed in Rush’s world-renowned Epilepsy Center, the NEST Clinic improves patients’ quality of life by reducing their seizure frequency and severity, preventing complications from treatment and managing the side effects of their medication.

An accurate, timely diagnosis is essential in helping patients with NES achieve a positive outcome. One-third of all patients admitted to an epilepsy monitoring unit for intractable seizures are found to have NES; those patients do not respond to medications and suffer from chronic impairment in their day-to-day functioning, resulting in admissions to emergency rooms and medical floors.

We use state-of-the-art continuous video EEG monitoring to accurately diagnose patients and establish their co-morbidities, as well as their neuropsychological strengths and needs. Once a diagnosis is made, our multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, neurologists, seizure specialists, psychologists and clinical social workers work with patients to address their contributing factors and presentation to offer them patient-centered, subspecialty care.

Why refer your patients here?

Nationally recognized care: The neurology and neurosurgery programs at Rush are ranked No. 4 in the nation and best in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report.

High distinction: The Rush Epilepsy Center is accredited as a Level 4 epilepsy center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers, the highest level possible. This designation is awarded to epilepsy centers offering the most advanced and comprehensive medical and psychosocial treatments, as well as innovative new treatment options.

Effective treatment: Once they have been properly diagnosed and started therapy, 50% of patients report no NES during their last week of treatment. In addition, patients who do not achieve full remission still demonstrate significant improvement, showing a 50% decrease of NES episodes, as well as decreased in-time duration of those episodes.

Most advanced diagnostics: Rush specializes in remote electroencephalography (EEG) with a state-of-the art, 10-bed epilepsy monitoring unit.

Tests and Treatments

• Continuous video EEG monitoring (cvEEG)
• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• High Density EEG (HD-EEG)
• Neurology and epilepsy care
• Pharmacotherapy of psychiatric comorbidities
• Psychotherapy