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Managing severe epilepsy in the community

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Stephen W. Brown
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The term ‘epilepsy’ refers to a tendency to have recurrent seizures. Epileptic seizures arise from an imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory cerebral neurotransmitters associated with sudden, paroxysmal, synchronous and repetitive discharges of neurones. All normal brains have the capability to have seizures. Epileptic seizures arise where there is lowering of the naturally occurring seizure threshold. Excitotoxins such as glutamate released in the brain during seizures can cause irreversible cell damage. Young children are especially vulnerable. Prolonged seizures (greater than 30 minutes) in children correlate with subsequent learning disability.

Type
Research Article
Information
Advances in Psychiatric Treatment , Volume 4 , Issue 6 , November 1998 , pp. 345 - 355
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 1998 

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