Definition

• A seizure is a paroxysmal event due to abnormal, excessive, hypersynchronous discharges from an aggregate of central nervous system (CNS) neurons.
  • See Approach to Seizures for the general evaluation of seizures.
• Epilepsy is diagnosed when there are recurrent seizures due to a chronic underlying process.
• Focal epilepsy is a seizure disorder characterized by partial (focal) seizures.
  • Initial seizure activity is restricted to discrete areas of the cerebral cortex.
  • See Generalized Epilepsy for a discussion of generalized seizures and epilepsy.
• Partial seizure classification includes:
  • Simple partial seizures (with motor, sensory, autonomic, or psychic signs)
    • By definition, consciousness is not affected.
  • Complex partial seizures
    • By definition, consciousness is affected.
  • Partial seizures with secondary generalization
• Epilepsy syndromes
  • Disorders in which epilepsy is a predominant feature and where there is sufficient evidence to suggest a common underlying mechanism
  • Partial epilepsy syndromes include:
    
    • Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) syndrome
    • Autosomal dominant partial epilepsy with auditory features (ADPEAF)

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