Welcome back to Behind the Brain. This week we talk with Dr. Erica Johnson about the PACES in Epilepsy program at the University of Washington. Dr. Johnson's area of research include psychosocial and neuropsychological features of chronic nervous system illness, mood and anxiety disorders and epilepsy.

Through her years of research on epilepsy and mood disorders, she, with her partner Dr. Fraser began working on PACES, an epilepsy self management program.

PACES is designed to address the needs of people who are working to manage an active seizure condition. It was developed in partnership with patients to ensure that the program is effective and supportive of learners.

The goal of PACES is to increase the medical, psychosocial, and community adjustments of adults with active seizure conditions.

Over the course of eight weekly sessions, participants develop coping and goal-setting strategies that improve overall and discrete aspects of quality of life, epilepsy self-management and efficacy, and anxiety and depression.

This program structure has been validated by randomized, controlled trials in multiple states. The program framework and eight-session curriculum, delivered via facilitated group sessions, is proven effective.