Non-epileptic seizures are not accompanied by unusual electrical activity in the brain and are most often caused by emotional stress or other psychological factors. This type of seizure can be successfully treated through counseling.

Provoked seizures are single seizures that may occur as the result of trauma, low blood sugar, low blood sodium, high fever or alcohol or drug abuse. Fever-related seizures may occur during infancy and children usually outgrow them by age six. After a careful evaluation to estimate the risk of recurrence, patients who suffer a single seizure may not need treatment.

Seizure disorder is a general term used to describe any condition in  which seizures may be a symptom. In fact, seizure disorder is so general that it is not a useful term. Unfortunately, seizure disorder is often used to avoid the term epilepsy.

Who is affected by epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a relatively common condition, affecting 0.5% - 1% of the population. In the United States, about 2.5 million people have epilepsy. In fact, about 9% of Americans has at least one seizure during their lives.

What causes epilepsy?
Epilepsy occurs as a result of abnormal electrical activity originating from the brain. Brain cells communicate by sending electrical signals in an orderly pattern. In epilepsy, these electrical signals become abnormal, giving rise to an electrical storm that produces seizures.

How is epilepsy treated?
The majority of epileptic seizures are controlled through drug therapy, particularly anticonvulsant drugs.

However, surgery and even diet are sometimes used to help control seizures. The type of treatment prescribed depends on several factors including the frequency and severity of the seizures as well as the person's age, overall health and medical history.

An accurate diagnosis of the type of epilepsy is critical to choosing the best treatment.