Generalized epilepsy

Generalized epilepsy is a form of epilepsy characterized by generalized seizures that occur with no obvious cause. Generalized seizures, as opposed to focal seizures, are a type of seizure that manifests as impaired consciousness, bilateral motor findings (including spasms, stiffening, jerking, contractions, or loss of muscle tone) or both. Generalized seizures also differ from focal seizures since they originate on both sides (hemispheres) of the brain and distort the electrical activity of the whole or a larger portion of the brain. These electrical findings are commonly visualized on electroencephalography (EEG) as part of diagnosis.^[1]

Generalized epilepsy is a type of primary epilepsy because the disorder is the originally diagnosed condition, as opposed to secondary epilepsy, which occurs as a symptom of a diagnosed illness.^[1]

Generalized epilepsy is usually diagnosed in childhood and can be caused by a number of underlying factors including dysfunctional neuronal networks, genetics, or brain trauma.^[2]

Generalized epilepsy can be broken down into six main subcategories of seizure types: absence seizures, myoclonic seizures, clonic seizures, tonic seizures, tonic-clonic seizures, and atonic seizures.^[3] Generalized epilepsy can also be a sign of an underlying seizure syndrome. Generalized seizures are most commonly treated with anti-epileptic medications and in rare cases surgical intervention.^[4]