Seizure classification

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shakiba Hassanzadeh, MD[2]

Overview

In 1981, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classified epileptic seizures as partial seizures (simple partial seizures, complex partial seizures, and partial seizures evolving to secondarily generalized seizures), generalized seizures (absence seizures, myoclonic seizures, clonic seizures, tonic seizures, tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal), and atonic seizures), and unclassified epileptic seizures.

Classification

In 1981, the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) classified epileptic seizure as:

• Partial seizures (focal, local)
  • Simple partial seizures - consciousness is not impaired
  • Complex partial seizures - consciousness is impaired (temporal lobe or psychomotor seizures)
  • Partial seizures evolving to secondarily generalized seizures
• Generalized seizures - initial involvement of both hemispheres, consciousness may be impaired
  • Absence seizures
  • Myoclonic seizures
  • Clonic seizures
  • Tonic seizures
  • Tonic-clonic seizures (Grand mal)
  • Atonic seizures

For more information about Epilepsy Classification, click here.

• Unclassified epileptic seizures