Abstract
The etiology of epilepsy is a major determinant of clinical course and prognosis, yet the current classifications of epilepsy do not list etiology in any detail. In this article, a classification (database) of the etiologies of epilepsy is proposed. In this scheme, the etiology of epilepsy is divided into four categories: idiopathic, symptomatic, provoked, and cryptogenic. These are defined and subcategories are proposed. A commentary addressing the following points is included: problems associated with assigning causation, symptomatic versus idiopathic epilepsy, focal versus generalized epilepsy, acquired epilepsy, acute symptomatic epilepsy, risk factor analysis, provoked epilepsy genetic and developmental epilepsy, and epilepsy as a disease not a symptom.
Keywords
EpilepsyEtiologyEpilepsy syndromesDiseaseMedicineCausationGeneralized epilepsyClassification schemePediatricsPsychiatryPathology
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Publication Info
- Year
- 2011
- Type
- review
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1052-1057
- Citations
- 322
- Access
- Closed
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Cite This
Simon Shorvon
(2011).
The etiologic classification of epilepsy.
Epilepsia
, 52
(6)
, 1052-1057.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1528-1167.2011.03041.x
Identifiers
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1528-1167.2011.03041.x