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

• Autor(a) principal: Sousa, Patrícia da Silva [UNIFESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2005
• Outros Autores: Lin, Katia [UNIFESP], Garzon, Eliana [UNIFESP], Sakamoto, Américo Ceiki [UNIFESP], Yacubian, Elza Márcia Targas [UNIFESP]
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seizure.2005.04.007; http://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/28352
• topic: juvenile myoclonic epilepsy; seizure precipitants; seizure-inhibiting factors; questionnaire; patient education

Purpose: To assess self-perception of factors that precipitate or inhibit seizures in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME).Patients and methods: Thirty-six mates and 39 females with JME and mean age of 25.8 +/- 8.7 years were analysed. All patients completed a standardized questionnaire to assess for the presence or absence of precipitant or inhibitory factors for their seizures in a face-to-face interview. These data were statistically analysed through logistic and linear regression models and Phi coefficient.Results: Ninety-two percent of the patients identified at least one precipitating factor (PF). in order of frequency the following PI's were recorded: stress (83%), steep deprivation (77%), specific thoughts/mental concentration (23%), performance of hand activities and complex finger movements (20%), flashing lights and playing games (15%), speaking out in public (11%) and alcohol intake (11%), reading (7%), calculating and writing (5%), playing musical instruments (4%), drawing (3%), and specific types of music (1%). Menstrual cycle was the third most important PF in the women (33%). Although PI's were easily recognized, 77% of the patients stated that they were unable to avoid the occurrence of the seizures.Conclusions: 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. (c) 2005 BEA Trading Ltd. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.