A Rare Electroencephalographic Pattern

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Abstract
The 6/second spike and wave discharge is a rare but distinct eeg abnormality. Among 20,000 recordings with some type of seizure activity, it was encountered in 210 cases, or 1%. Like other patterns which correlate with epilepsy, it is occasionally found in "normal" control subjects and persons without signs and symptoms of brain disorder. The abnormality is primarily confined to the drowsy phase of sleep and shows variations of frequency, amplitude, and distribution in different age groups. It correlates with epilepsy; convulsive seizures occur in almost 60% of the cases and an additional 20% have paroxysmal disorders such as attacks of headache, syncope, dizziness, and vomiting. The remainder show a variety of psychiatric and neurologic disturbances. Etiology is unknown in most cases. The prognosis is not as good as in some other types of epilepsy. A high percentage of patients are not benefited by presently available anticonvulsant drugs.

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