The new definition and classification of seizures and epilepsy

Jessica J Falco-Walter; Ingrid E Scheffer; Robert S Fisher

doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.11.015

The new definition and classification of seizures and epilepsy

Epilepsy Res. 2018 Jan:139:73-79. doi: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.11.015. Epub 2017 Nov 28.

Authors

Jessica J Falco-Walter¹, Ingrid E Scheffer², Robert S Fisher³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, Palo Alto CA 94305, United States. Electronic address: Jessica.Walter@Stanford.edu.
² Departments of Medicine and Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Austin Health and Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: i.scheffer@unimelb.edu.au.
³ Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, Palo Alto CA 94305, United States. Electronic address: rfisher@Stanford.edu.

PMID: 29197668
DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2017.11.015

Abstract

This review discusses the updated classifications of seizures and the epilepsies, which were recently published by the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). While it is always a challenge to learn a new classification system, particularly one that has remained essentially unchanged for over three decades, these new classifications allow for the inclusion of some previously unclassifiable seizure types and utilize more intuitive terminology. In this review, we specifically discuss the use of these new classifications for patients, clinicians, and researchers.

Keywords: Classification; Epilepsy; Focal; Generalized; Partial; Seizures; Taxonomy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Epilepsy / classification*
Humans
Seizures / classification*