Seizure precipitants and perceived self-control of seizures in adults withpoorly-controlled epilepsy

This study was set up in order to investigate the prevalence and nature of seizure precipitants and self-control behaviours in adults with intractable seizures. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 100 patients atte nding neurology or neuropsychiatry epilepsy out-patient clinics. The interv iew included six questions regarding seizure precipitants, the extent to wh ich the patients seek and avoid precipitants, and their ability to induce o r abort seizures. The study revealed that over 90% of the participants coul d identify at least one seizure precipitant. Stress: depression, tiredness and the menstrual cycle were the most common precipitants reported. In addi tion, 65% of the participants could identify at least one 'low-risk' situat ion in which seizures were unlikely to occur. Fifteen percent reported they could induce a seizure, 52% said that they consciously try to avoid seizur e precipitants and 47% said they could sometimes stop their seizures from h appening. These results indicate that the majority of the sample could iden tify factors which trigger their seizures, and that some of the participant s engage in attempts to reduce their seizure frequency by avoiding these fa ctors and by controlling the onset of their seizures. The possible mechanis ms involved in the relationship between precipitants and seizure genesis ar e discussed. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.