Causes and diagnostic criteria of situative seizures

We defined situative seizures as provoked epileptic seizures in a person not suffering from epilepsy and not disposed to epilepsy. Typical precipitating factors are sleep deprivation (with and without alcohol abuse), endocrine disorders, and acute cerebral diseases. We reevaluated the diagnosis of situative seizures in 172 patients. The diagnosis was confirmed in 96 patients (55.8%). Sleep deprivation alone (35.4%) or in combination with alcohol abuse (17.7%) were the most common causes of the seizures. Before situative seizures are diagnosed, one has to rule out that the patient suffers from epilepsy or is disposed to epilepsy.