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Age and gender differences in initial symptoms and precipitant factors of epileptic seizures: An Australian study

2009; Elsevier BV; Volume: 16; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.yebeh.2009.06.018

1525-5069

Jaya Pinikahana, Joanne Dono,

Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments

Abstract The aim of this study was to document self-perceived warning signs, initial symptoms, triggers of epileptic seizures, and techniques to control seizures for people with epilepsy and to establish patterns in these self-reported experiences of epilepsy in relation to age and gender. Of 338 questionnaires mailed out to registrants on an epilepsy research database, 225 were anonymously returned (66.6% response rate). The questionnaire contained information regarding demographic characteristics, living with epilepsy, and self-perceived warning signs, initial symptoms, triggers of seizures, and techniques to control seizures. Of 225 participants, 86.6% reported at least one symptom prior to a seizure, and 69.8% indicated that they had tried at least one technique to stop a seizure. Younger participants were more likely to report some of the symptoms, triggers, and techniques, compared with older participants, and there was a gender difference on some of the triggers.