There are many potential causes of epilepsy. Tumors, strokes, and brain damage from illness or injury can all cause epilepsy. There are genetic causes of epilepsy as well. In some cases, however, the source of the disorder is not understood.
Epilepsy & Seizures Causes
There are common triggers that can provoke seizures in people with epilepsy. These include sensory stimuli like loud music, specific visual patterns and flashing lights. Sleep deprivation, alcohol withdrawal, stress, fever or missing a prescribed anti-seizure medication may also induce seizures. If you’ve already had one seizure, your likelihood of developing epilepsy increases. Your chances also grow if you’ve suffered a serious head injury or have a family history of epilepsy.
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If a child has epilepsy the risk of siblings having epilepsy is higher, if they are identical twins, and if the epilepsy was diagnosed before the age of 15. It is also more common with generalized idiopathic epilepsy syndromes. -
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Discovery Health answeredSee All 2 AnswersGiven society's tendency to fear the unknown, epileptic seizures were once associated with demonic possession and black magic, rather than legitimate medical conditions. Because of those black magic associations, it may seem natural that people would associate the full moon and its "power" to epileptic seizures.
The connection to the full moon's supposed strength, however, was popularize in 1978 through a book published by psychiatric Arnold Lieber, called "Lunar Effects: Biological Tides and Human Emotions."
The book explored the potential effects on humans that could result from the moon's ability to utilize gravitational pull.
A handful of studies have claimed to show a connection between a full moon and various consequences, however, they are usually discredited because of problems with how the studies were conducted.
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Discovery Health answered
Researchers from the University of South Florida did a study they believe answers the question of whether a full moon causes epileptic seizures.
The team reviewed 770 seizures that took place in the epilepsy monitoring unit at Tampa General Hospital, over a three-year period.
The goal was to find out if the seizures happened more often during full moons.
The study, published in "Epilepsy and Behavior," concluded that the full moon period actually had the least epileptic seizures, with a total of 94. The moon's last quarter, on the other hand, had the most, with 152.
The results persuaded scientists to conclude there is not a significant correlation between a full moon and an increased incidence of epileptic seizures.
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Dr. Phaniraj Iyengar, MD , Vascular Neurology, answered on behalf of Sunrise Hospital & Medical CenterSee All 6 Answers
Seizures can be caused by many things in both normal and abnormal brains. In this video, I will say that prevention is an important part of treating seizures. -
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Discovery Health answered
Epilepsy can start at any age, but is most common among young children and among the elderly.
Roughly half of all epilepsy patients are children. Older people who have the disorder often develop it because of other neurological conditions, such as dementia or stroke. People who are older than 75 years old face the greatest risk of developing epilepsy.
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See All 3 AnswersCommon seizure triggers include:- lack of sleep
- flashing lights
- video games
- use of recreational drugs
- abrupt withdrawal from medications
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No epileptic seizure is thought to be due to underlying psychological mechanisms. About 20% of patients with non-epileptic seizures also have epilepsy. A careful evaluation and diagnostic tests such as EEG recording are needed to make the correct diagnosis. Non-epileptic attacks often arise in stressful situations and represent an avoidance mechanism. The timing of the seizures linking them to external events often gives the diagnosis. The stress may be a change of home environment or an extra demand place upon individual.
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Dr. Rossi Davis , Psychology, answeredYes, seizures can be psychologically triggered. These are called psychogenic non-epileptic seizures also referred to as pseudo seizures. Their origin is attributed to emotional/stress related factors i.e. trauma.
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See All 3 AnswersYes. Many drugs can increase the tendency to have epileptic seizures, and this includes certain antidepressants. Therefore, in some cases, these drugs can cause one or more epileptic seizures in someone who has never had and epileptic seizure before. Most antidepressants do not increase the risk of seizures, but bupropion (Welbutrin) is the antidepressant most likely to do this. When this occurs, the epileptic seizure is called a provoked, reactive or acute symptomatic seizure, and is not a reason to make a diagnosis of epilepsy. Typically, when the drug is discontinued, epileptic seizures never recur and treatment is not necessary.