Analysis of seizures consisting mainly of alteration of consciousness: a video-EEG study of 388 seizures in 117 patients with generalized and focal epilepsies

Previous studies on seizures whose prominent feature is an alteraltion of consciousness with no or minimal motor activity („absence“), were mostly limited to generalized epilepsies. In focal epilepsies this seizure type has been described rarely. This study analyzed whether semiological features help to distinguish this seizure type in patients with generalized and focal epilepsies. To minimize referral bias we included patients from 3 different centers. 388 video-EEG recorded seizures of 117 patients with focal (n=64) and generalized epilepsies (n=53) were included. Two investigators blinded for all data evalua…