title: Complex partial status epilepticus (psychomotor status).
abstract: A 20-year-old mentally retarded woman, who had a history of intractable epileptic seizures since early childhood, had prolonged episodes of confusion, decreased responsiveness and automatic behavior lasting as long as 2 days. These are believed to represent epileptic status of the complex partial (psychomotor) type because the electroencephalogram (EEG) recorded during two such periods showed continuous high amplitude, semirhythmic, 4 to 6 cycles per second (cps), spike activity over both frontotemporal regions; several interictal tracings revealed a consistent spike focus in the right anterior temporal area. Diazepam given intravenously during one such episode terminated both the abnormal behavior and the ictal discharges in the EEG.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000150:complications; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000209:etiology; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*