Self-induction of seizures in photosensitive patients in a tropical country.
Two Sri Lankan girls who, in their childhood, developed self-induced epilepsy are reported. The seizures were tonic-clonic and induced by rubbing the forehead in one case and by waving one hand in front of the eyes in the other. These manoeuvres performed while gazing at a bright light evoked generalised polyspike and wave discharges. The patients had no explanation for their behaviour but the most likely basis for the act was attention-seeking. One patient whose seizures were not controlled with phenytoin received clobazam as adjuvant therapy and showed a marked improvement clinically and electroencephalographically.
Senanayake
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Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.
D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012653:Self Stimulation; D013188:Sri Lanka; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology*