Faculty Collaboration Database

Auras in generalized epilepsy. Neurology 2014 Oct 14;83(16):1444-9

Date

09/19/2014

Pubmed ID

25230998

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4206156

DOI

10.1212/WNL.0000000000000877

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84925545452 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   32 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We studied the frequency of auras in generalized epilepsy (GE) using a detailed semistructured diagnostic interview.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, participants with GE were drawn from the Epilepsy Phenome/Genome Project (EPGP). Responses to the standardized diagnostic interview regarding tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures were then examined. This questionnaire initially required participants to provide their own description of any subjective phenomena before their "grand mal seizures." Participants who provided answers to these questions were considered to have an aura. All participants were then systematically queried regarding a list of specific symptoms occurring before grand mal seizures, using structured (closed-ended) questions.

RESULTS: Seven hundred ninety-eight participants with GE were identified, of whom 530 reported grand mal seizures. Of these, 112 (21.3%) reported auras in response to the open-ended question. Analysis of responses to the closed-ended questions suggested that 341 participants (64.3%) experienced at least one form of aura.

CONCLUSIONS: Auras typically associated with focal epilepsy were reported by a substantial proportion of EPGP subjects with GE. This finding may support existing theories of cortical and subcortical generators of GE with variable spread patterns. Differences between responses to the open-ended question and closed-ended questions may also reflect clinically relevant variation in patient responses to history-taking and surveys. Open-ended questions may underestimate the prevalence of specific types of auras and may be in part responsible for the underrecognition of auras in GE. In addition, structured questions may influence participants, possibly leading to a greater representation of symptoms.

Author List

Dugan P, Carlson C, Bluvstein J, Chong DJ, Friedman D, Kirsch HE, EPGP Investigators

Author

Chad Carlson MD Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Age Factors
Age of Onset
Cross-Sectional Studies
Epilepsy, Generalized
Female
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Prevalence
Seizures
Surveys and Questionnaires
Time Factors
Young Adult