PMID: 2510209Jan 1, 1989Paper

A clinical and electroencephalographic study of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: its pathophysiological considerations based on the findings obtained from neuropsychological EEG activation

Seishin shinkeigaku zasshi = Psychiatria et neurologia Japonica
H Matsuoka

Abstract

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is one of the idiopathic generalized epilepsies with age-related onset. Myoclonic seizures of JME often occur on awakening. On the other hand, patients with reflex epilepsy, whose seizures are particularly induced by activating higher cognitive functions, are thought to belong to the same category. As to the seizure precipitating factors of these patients with JME, however, few studies have ever been made. In this study, clinical and electroencephalographic findings of 25 patients with JME, on whom "neuropsychological EEG activation" (NPA) was performed, were carefully analyzed. After a routine EEG examination, NPA was carried out; this is a special method for EEG activation that requires the patients to speak, read, write, calculate and perform constructive acts (drawing figures and doing a block design test); in addition to EEG recording, simultaneous video-EEG monitoring was also made during these tasks. In the patients with JME, the sex ratio was about equal (11 males and 14 females). Eight patients (32%) had a family history of epilepsy but none of the patients had a positive past history responsible for epilepsy. The age at the onset of myoclonic seizures ranged between 10 and 20 years (m...Continue Reading

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