Adult-onset photosensitivity: clinical significance and epilepsy syndromes including idiopathic (possibly genetic) photosensitive occipital epilepsy.

To evaluate the clinical associations of adult-onset photosensitivity, we studied the clinical and EEG data of patients who were referred due to a possible first seizure and who had a photoparoxysmal response on their EEG. Patients with clinical evidence of photosensitivity before the age of 20 were excluded. Of a total of 30 patients, four had acute symptomatic seizures, two had vasovagal syncope, and 24 were diagnosed with epilepsy.

Family burden of schizophrenic patients and the welfare system; the case of Cyprus.

Background: The shift from asylum to community care for mental health patients has burdened the providers of primary health care and, more than all, families. As a result, numerous studies [Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 31:345-348, 1995, J Health Socisl Behav 36:138-150, 1995] have focused on the burden of care experienced by family members living with individuals with severe mental disorders. This kind of provision, also extols a significant cost to the society at large in terms of significant direct and indirect costs.

Video-EEG documented lengthy seizure in Panayiotopoulos syndrome: clinical manifestations may be inconspicuous.

A 4-year-old boy had an autonomic seizure of Panayiotopoulos syndrome during video-EEG recording. Interictal EEG showed multifocal spikes in the centrotemporal and left posterior regions. Ictal electrographic onset included fast rhythms in the left posterior regions progressing to a mixture of high-amplitude spikes and fast and slow rhythms, bilaterally.

Autonomic epileptic seizures, autonomic effects of seizures, and SUDEP.

Many generalized tonic-clonic seizures are accompanied by profound autonomic changes. However, autonomic seizures and autonomic status epilepticus can also be seen with specific electroclinical syndromes (Panayiotopoulos syndrome), etiologies, and localizations. Such autonomic symptoms may impact cardiorespiratory function.

Occipital lobe seizures and epilepsies.

Occipital lobe epilepsies (OLEs) manifest with occipital seizures from an epileptic focus within the occipital lobes. Ictal clinical symptoms are mainly visual and oculomotor. Elementary visual hallucinations are common and characteristic.