Types and classification of epileptic seizures

We define epilepsy as a central nervous system disease characterized by one main symptom: epileptic seizures. These crises are defined as a temporary alteration of the nervous system that produces spasms, dizziness, loss of consciousness and abnormal psychological sensations. According to the symptoms of the epileptic seizures that an individual suffers, we can observe one type or another of epilepsy.

In the following Psychology-Online article, we will talk about the types of epilepsy and their symptoms. Epilepsy is a disease that requires urgent medical treatment, so if you have some of the crises that we mentioned, you should go to a specialist.

Index

1. What is epilepsy: definition and causes
2. Types of epileptic seizures according to their symptoms
3. Classification of epilepsy according to the nature of the disease

First of all, it is important to correctly define this disease. As we have commented at the beginning of this article about the types of epilepsy, this disorder is defined as a

Epilepsy: symptoms in adults

Depending on the type of seizure, an adult can have different types of seizures and symptoms. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, we highlight the following general symptoms:

• Confusion
• Stare
• Muscle movements in the form of spasms
• Psychological symptoms such as anxiety, circular thoughts and fears

Causes of epilepsy

As strange as it sounds, each and every one of us is susceptible to an epileptic seizure at some point in our life. However, to be diagnosed with epilepsy, it is necessary to have suffered these seizures on more than one occasion. The main causes of the appearance of epilepsy are the following:

• Inheritance genetics
• Causes physical: blows to the head, trauma, infectious diseases or prenatal injuries
• Disorders of the growth: What autism in children or some intellectual disabilities

There are many ways to conceptualize and classify epileptic syndrome, since each seizure and each symptom of it can be classified differently. In this article we will use an el Scheme of the classification of epilepsies of the Spanish Epilepsy Federation^[2]. This scheme classifies this disease of the nervous system according to the symptoms of epileptic seizures.

Generalized Crisis

It affects both hemispheres of the brain and seizures are more difficult to control.

• Tonic-Clonic: This type of crisis is characterized by starting with a tonic phase where the limbs are tense, followed by jerks throughout the body, that is, by the clonic phase.
• Myoclonic: they are characterized by strong muscle contractions.
• Atonic: crises of this nature are characterized by a sudden loss of muscle tone
• Generalized absence seizures: in this case, the crisis causes memory loss and blackouts. This type of epilepsy is more common in children than in adults.

Partial Crisis

In this case, the altered activity is centered in one part of the brain, there is usually no loss of consciousness and its symptoms are more controllable.

• Simple partial seizures: It is characterized by an alteration of muscle movement, sight, hearing, memory and other sensations, the person maintains consciousness.
• Complex partial seizures: this type of partial crisis DOES cause loss of consciousness.
• Partial seizures with secondary generalization

Epileptic Syndromes

When we speak of epileptic syndrome, we refer to a picture of symptoms that goes beyond epileptic seizures. An epileptic syndrome includes the activity of the nervous system, the behavior of the individual before and after the seizures, the general psychological state ...

• Idiopathic partial epilepsies (without apparent cause) in children
• Generalized idiopathic epilepsies
• Reflex epilepsies
• Epileptic encephalopathies

Infantile Spasms

Finally, epileptic seizures are considered this set of symptoms that usually occur between 0 and 3 years. The spasms can be in the head or throughout the body of the infant and usually last a few seconds, the symptoms subside over the years. The West syndrome it is usually characterized by the presence of these symptoms.

Very similar to the previous classification, there is another way to classify epilepsy, this time we will use the model proposed by the International League Against Epilepsy:

Types of Epilepsy located at a specific point (focal / partial)

• Idiopathic or spontaneous eruption: benign infantile epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes.
• Symptomatic, of known origin: p. eg, temporal lobe epilepsies, frontal lobe epilepsies.
• Cryptogenic, of unknown origin.

Generalized Types of Epilepsy

• IdiopathicAccording to the age of onset: childhood absence epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.
• Cryptogenic in order of age: West syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
• Symptomatic:

1. Non-specific etiology
2. Specific syndromes

Types of Epilepsy of undetermined location

• With both generalized and focal seizures
• No unambiguous generalized or focal features

Special syndromes

• Situation-related seizures: febrile seizures, seizures, or isolated epileptic states.

As a final comment, in Psychology-Online we recommend you go to a doctor if you have suffered any type of epileptic seizure or you feel identified with some type of epilepsy of which we have mentioned. As was well mentioned at the beginning, this disease needs urgent treatment so that you can lead a stable and happy life.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Types and classification of epileptic seizures, we recommend that you enter our category of Neuropsychology.

1. Pozo Lauzán, D., & Pozo Alonso, A. J. (2001). New conceptual approach to epilepsy. Cuban Journal of Pediatrics, 73(4), 224-229.
2. Commission on Classification and Terminology of the International League Against Epilepsy. Proposal for revised classification of epilepsies and epileptic syndromes. Epilepsy 1989; 30: 389-99