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Background: Three years ago (in 2020), we at the epilepsy center in Shiraz, Iran, started an endeavor to initiate a surgical program for patients with hypothalamic hamartoma (HH). We discussed that although minimally invasive techniques are desired, they are not available in the nation. We decided to proceed with open disconnection and resection surgery techniques. The current manuscript presents the results of the HH surgery program at our center as a case series., Methods: This study included all patients with a diagnosis of HH who were referred to Shiraz Epilepsy Center with drug-resistant epilepsy and who underwent HH surgery from October 2020 to January 2023 at our epilepsy center, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran., Results: Seven patients were included. All patients had gelastic seizures. Four patients (57%) underwent total resection of HH, and the lesions were disconnected and partially resected in three other patients (43%). Three patients (43%) became seizure-free after surgery, and three patients (43%) had more than 50% reduction in their seizure frequencies. Three patients (43%) had no post-operative complications. Only one patient (14.3%) suffered from a permanent postoperative complication (right hemiparesis). The mortality rate was zero. Five parents (71%) were satisfied with the surgery outcomes., Conclusion: Hypothalamic hamartoma surgery is feasible even in centers with limited resources if a close collaboration exists between the epileptology and neurosurgery teams. Careful planning based on the expertise of the team members and the available resources is required to foster success., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Ali A. Asadi-Pooya: Honoraria from Cobel Daruo, Actoverco; Royalty: Oxford University Press (Book publication); Grant from the National Institute for Medical Research Development. Others: no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Opinions of healthcare professionals may shape their attitudes towards any given condition and patient population. The aim of the current study was to gather the views of healthcare providers on some of the issues on symptomatology and terminology of functional seizures (FS)., Methods: This was a questionnaire study that was sent to all neurologists and psychiatrists practicing in Fars province, Iran. The survey included six questions: one question about professional qualifications, one question on the participants' personal experience with the topic of interest (i.e., FS), and four questions probing their opinions about the matter of interest., Results: Of the 81 physicians approached, 69 responded (response rate: 85%; 32 psychiatrists and 37 neurologists). Physicians held varying opinions on some of the key issues (e.g., terminology, semiology, and driving permission) in this patient population. Participants were almost evenly split on how to make an advice on driving permission in these patients. Most physicians endorsed "psychogenic nonepileptic seizures" to label this condition., Conclusion: This study highlights some of the challenging issues surrounding FS. Investigators should explore the pathophysiology and nature of FS and whether these patients have any difficulties with driving and other important issues in their daily lives., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Ali A. Asadi-Pooya: Honoraria from Cobel Daruo and RaymandRad; Royalty: Oxford University Press (Book publication); Grant from the National Institute for Medical Research Development. Others: no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to gather the views of healthcare providers practicing in the field of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) on the issue of "disability benefits eligibility and PNES"., Methods: This was a questionnaire study that was sent to all neurologists and psychiatrists practicing in Fars province, Iran. The survey included seven questions: one question about professional qualifications, one question on the participants' personal experience with the topic of interest (i.e., PNES), and five questions probing their opinions about the matter of interest (i.e., the issue of disability benefits eligibility in PNES)., Results: The response rate was 72%. Respondents included 32 psychiatrists and 31 neurologists. In response to the question "Do you think that patients with PNES should be counseled to avoid performing all jobs or professions as long as they have active PNES?", 47 (75%) physicians answered "no" (22 neurologists and 25 psychiatrists; P = .5). In response to the question "Do you think that patients with PNES should be qualified for disability benefits?", 47 (75%) physicians answered "Patients with specific jobs or professions should be qualified for disability benefits" (23 neurologists and 24 psychiatrists; P = 1); while, nobody believed that "All of them should be qualified for disability benefits"., Conclusion: While collection of the opinions of physicians is valuable, this is just one piece of the puzzle; future studies should investigate the opinions of other stakeholders. More importantly, investigators should explore whether patients with PNES have any job-related difficulties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Ali A. Asadi-Pooya: Honoraria from Cobel Daruo and RaymandRad; Royalty: Oxford University Press (Book publication); Grant from the National Institute for Medical Research Development. Others: no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)