Medical and social issues related to posttraumatic seizures in persons with traumatic brain injury.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of late posttraumatic seizures (LPTS) in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) ranges anywhere from 5% to 18.9% in civilian populations up to 32% to 50% in military personnel.


OBJECTIVE
This article reviews the current knowledge about the incidence and prevalence of LPTS following a TBI, the risk factors for developing LPTS, and the options available for preventing the development of LPTS.


METHODS
The psychosocial ramifications of LPTS following a TBI have not been well explored. As a result, the psychosocial findings from the current literature on epilepsy will be reviewed with the hope that the need for future TBI outcomes research to investigate the impact of LPTS following a TBI or, at least, to include LPTS as a potential contributing factor will be recognized.
Bushnik
Tamara
T
Northern California TBI Model System of Care, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA 95128, USA. tamara@tbi-sci.org
Englander
Jeffrey
J
Duong
Thao
T
D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D004834:Epilepsy, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior