Self-abatement of complex partial seizures.

Seven of 71 patients with complex partial seizures claimed they were able to abate their seizures, while none of 18 with simple partial seizures were able to do so. Self-abatement exercises included highly stereotyped cognitive and physical components unique to the individual. Those who could abate their seizures had attained higher educational status, better social and vocational adjustment, and better psychological adjustment than did the control group of patients with epilepsy. The self-abatement group was also more likely to have right hemispheric electroencephalographic abnormalities. Characterization of the self-abatement group may be relevant to the selection of candidates for behavioral therapy for epilepsy.

Epileptic amnesic attacks: benefit from antiepileptic drugs.

We studied two sexagenarians who had recurrent circumscribed attacks of amnesia. Their EEGs showed frequent bilateral spikes that arose independently from the temporal lobes, primarily from mesiobasal structures. Amnesic attacks ceased after treatment with antiepileptic drugs. Neuropsychological tests demonstrated selective cognitive impairments, and short-term memory improved after treatment in one patient. Epileptic amnesic attacks should be distinguished from transient global amnesia, which is clinically similar.