Emotional stress–induced seizures: Another reflex epilepsy?

Abstract

Multiple triggers have been shown to provoke seizures in reflex epilepsy. Among these are external stimuli (flickering light, hot water), actions (chewing, reading), and even mental tasks. We present a 9-year-old girl whose seizures were provoked mainly by emotional stress. In most cases of emotional stress-related seizures, especially when a specific confrontational incidence preceded the seizure, the suspicion for a nonepileptic event is high. In our patient we were able to show that the seizures were epileptic. Further investigation to clarify the pathophysiology of stress-related seizures is needed.