Functional seizure Health Dictionary

Also called a FIT, this is a sudden burst of uncontrolled electrical activity in the BRAIN. A seizure may be generalised or partial: in the former, abnormal electrical activity may affect the whole brain, resulting in unconsciousness and characteristic of EPILEPSY; in partial seizures, abnormal electrical activity occurs in one part of the brain. HALLUCINATIONS may occur and localised symptoms include muscular twitching or a tingling sensation in a small area of the face, arm, leg or trunk. Di?erent neurological or medical disorders may cause seizures: for example, STROKE, brain tumour, head injury, infection or metabolic disturbance (see METABOLISM; METABOLIC DISORDERS). People dependent on alcohol may suffer seizures if they stop drinking. Treatment is of the underlying condition coupled with antiepileptic drgus such as CARBAMAZEPINE, lamotrigine, SODIUM VALPROATE or PHENYTOIN SODIUM.... seizure

An imbalance of response, without permanent tissue damage, and generally reversible.... functional

See PSYCHOSOMATIC DISEASES.... functional diseases

The extent to which an individual is able to perform activities that are associated with the routines of daily living. See “activities of daily living”; and “instrumental activities of daily living”.... functional status

A term for any illness in which there is no evidence of organic disturbance even though physical performance is impaired.... functional disorders

see epilepsy.... complex partial seizure

see non-epileptic seizure.... conversion seizure

a condition in which a patient complains of symptoms for which no physical cause can be found. Such a condition is frequently an indication of a psychiatric disorder. Compare organic disorder.... functional disorder

(FESS) see endoscopic sinus surgery.... functional endoscopic sinus surgery

natural or processed foods that contain a known biologically active component that gives clinically proven health benefits in addition to the traditional nutrient value. For example, stanols and sterols added to margarine-type spreads lower cholesterol. See also prebiotics; probiotics.... functional foods

(FIM) a table recommended by the WHO for assessing the degree of whole-person disability, being particularly useful for judging the extent of recovery from serious injury. It has five grades, ranging from 0 (fully independent) to 4 (completely dependent).... functional independence measure

(fMRI) a type of *magnetic resonance imaging that measures the increased hemodynamic response seen with neural activity in the brain or spinal cord. fMRI has allowed major advances in brain mapping (i.e. matching sections of the brain with particular behaviours, thoughts, or emotions).... functional magnetic resonance imaging

an international index, published by the World Health Organization, that grades the degree of recovery after serious injury.... functional recovery index

n. an event with symptoms that mimic an epileptic seizure but that does not involve abnormal discharges of cortical neurons that would be captured on an EEG. It can be caused by both physiological and psychological conditions. Physiological causes include syncopes, cataplexy, migraine, narcolepsy, parasomnias, and tics. Psychological non-epileptic seizures, also known as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, can arise from acute distress or anxiety or in the context of a *somatic symptom. People who suffer from epilepsy may have non-epileptic seizures as well. The main visible difference between a non-epileptic seizure and an epileptic seizure is that the former commonly lasts longer than two minutes and can last up to 30 minutes. Also there is occasional pelvic thrusting, the patient’s eyes and mouth are typically closed, and side-to-side head movements are more common than in epileptic seizures. Crying or talking during the attack is possible. There is no *postictal phase. Other names for non-epileptic seizures include pseudo seizures, functional seizures, and conversion seizures.... non-epileptic seizure

see non-epileptic seizure.... pseudo seizure