Self-perception of factors that precipitate or inhibit seizures in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Abstract

Structured questionnaire is useful in stimulating patients to self-report seizure precipitants. Patients with higher education and uncontrolled seizures identified them more easily. The presence of a significant number of uncommon PFs, such as mental and motor hand tasks, considered uncommon for other epileptic syndromes, suggests that the role of these factors may be under-recognized in JME.

The Effect of Cognitive Functions on EEG in Patients with Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

“…[1][2][3][4] The relation between spontaneous epileptiform activity and cognitive functions has been studied with an increasing interest since present. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] Seizures induced by higher mental activities have encouraged studies which were designed with special EEG activation methods to show any effect of mental tasks on the EEG of epileptic patients. [11][12][13][14] Matsuoka et al [11] used a neuropsychological method testing for various mental activities as a part of routine EEG examination for patients with epilepsy.…”

“…[1][2][3][4] It has been also demonstrated that spesific or nonspecific complex cognitive activities such as calculations, constructive activities, drawing, playing strategic board games are able to precipitate seizures. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] In the treatment of JME not only antiepileptic drug therapy but also identification and regulation of seizure precipitant factors are important.…”

The impact of sleep loss on the facilitation of seizures: A prospective case-crossover study

“…In the study by Aird, 43 % of patients reported benefit from increased awareness on precipitants, in 17% it was thought to have substantial impact on seizure control (Aird, 1983). On the other hand, it seems to be a common problem that patients often are aware of possible seizure precipitants, while believing that the precipitants are unavoidable (da Silva Sousa, 2005).…”

“…suggest sleep deprivation as a seizure trigger (Aird, 1983;Antebi and Bird, 1993;da Silva Sousa et al, 2005;Ferlisi and Shorvon, 2014;Frucht et al, 2000;Wassenaar et al, 2014). A study combining transcranial magnetic stimulation and EEG suggested that the excitability of the human frontal cortex progressively increased with time awake and decreased after sleep recovery (Huber et al, 2013).…”

Cognitive Disorders in Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy

“…A smaller proportion of patients report that seizures may be associated with "thoughts and concentration" (23%) or hand activities (20%). [4,5] IGE is a socially significant disease with disadvantageous behavioral traits and poor social outcome. Social cognition is the ability to elaborate mental representations of social interactions, to use them correctly in social contexts; it includes the attribution of cognitive and affective mental states to self and others, and presumably relies on complex fronto-temporal interactions.…”