Highlights
- •We interviewed patients attending an epilepsy clinic to identify seizure precipitants.
- •97% cited at least one precipitant, with stress, sleep deprivation, and fatigue being most frequently reported.
- •Seizure precipitants are more frequently reported by patients with psychological comorbidities.
- •Distribution of precipitants differs among epilepsy syndromes.
Abstract
Aim
adult epilepsy clinic population: (a) to identify the frequency of seizure precipitants
(triggering factors) and their relative frequency in those with psychiatric disorders,
and in those in remission or with active epilepsy, differences in frequency with regard
to gender, seizure duration, number of drugs taken; (b) to determine which precipitants
patients most commonly report; and (c) to identify differences in the distribution
of precipitants among generalized, temporal, and extratemporal epilepsies.
Methods
Consecutive patients attending a tertiary-care epilepsy clinic were prospectively
and an open personal interview to identify and characterize seizure precipitants.
Information about the epilepsy and clinical characteristics of patients was collected
during the interview and from medical records.
Results
Of 104 patients, 97% cited at least one precipitant. Stress, sleep deprivation, and
fatigue were the most frequently reported precipitants. Patients with psychological
comorbidities reported a greater percentage of seizures with seizure precipitants.
Patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy seemed to be more sensitive to seizures
during awakening and sleep deprivation, patients with extratemporal epilepsy reported
more frequent seizures during sleep. There were no differences in frequency or type
of seizure precipitants with regard to gender, seizure duration or frequency, and
the number of antiepileptic drugs taken.
Conclusion
The findings may have implications for the better management of epilepsy by increasing
a focus on nonpharmacological therapy. The implications of the findings for nosology
and causation of epilepsy are also briefly discussed.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
February 16,
2014
Received in revised form:
February 13,
2014
Received:
December 19,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
