Epilepsy is an electrical disturbance of the brain that results in repeated seizures (abnormal electric signals to the brain). Seizures can last a few seconds or minutes and often consist of convulsions or lost consciousness, sometimes resulting in difficulties with communications and uncharacteristic or disorganized movements.

What causes epileptic seizures?

The cause of epileptic seizures is often unknown but some sources may include:

Brain injury (perhaps caused by trauma or stroke)
Drug use
Brain tumors
Infections

Types of Seizures

Seizures take many forms and depend on the part of the brain affected. Seizures are classfiied as:

Generalized: including absence, atonic, tonic-clonic and myoclonic; effect both sides of the brain
Partial: including simple and complex; limited to one side of the brain
Nonepileptic: similar to epileptic seizures but not caused by electrical disruptions to the brain
Status epilepticus: prolonged or repeated seizures

Tests

Electroencephalography (EEG): 24-hour sleep-deprived EEG or inpatient video EEG monitoring (inpatient monitoring is scheduled once a patient has been seen and evaluated in the Neurology clinic)
Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Sodium amytal test/WADA test
Neuropsychological testing

Treatment Options

UW Health's neurology program emphasizes patient quality-of-life when considering treatment options.We strive to establish treatments that involve the least medication and result in the fewest seizures. Potential treatment options include:

Medication
Epilepsy surgery evaluation (for potential temporal lobectomy)
Surgery, including Vagus nerve stimulation
Clinical trials, including NeuroPace pacemaker, an implant that provides responsive neural stimulation (RNS) to the brain

Internet Resources