Complex partial seizures originate in a specific area of the brain and are characterized by reduced awareness. They can last from 30 seconds to several minutes and cause aimless movements. Patients may experience memory loss and fatigue after seizures. Bystanders should protect the patient but not restrain them unless they are in danger.
Complex partial seizures are a form of focal seizure, which means they originate in a specific area of the brain, characterized by reduced awareness. Although someone is awake during a complex partial seizure and may have their eyes open, the person will remain unresponsive during the seizure and commonly have no memory of the seizure after it is over. This type of seizure is sometimes referred to as psychomotor epilepsy.
People can develop complex partial seizures for a variety of reasons, ranging from a congenital condition to an insult to the brain such as trauma from an accident. Seizures can last from 30 seconds to several minutes and can vary in intensity. Symptoms also vary, depending on where the seizure is located, although the temporal and frontal lobes are common points of origin for a complex partial seizure.
Most patients experience what is described as a convulsive aura before having complex partial seizures. The aura can include vision disturbances, changes in your sense of smell and touch, or just a strange feeling. For patients accustomed to seizures, the aura can be a warning sign that allows the patient and those around him to prepare.
During a complex partial seizure, people often engage in what are known as automatisms. Automatisms are aimless movements such as clenching fists, licking, moving the mouth, or even walking and talking. The patient is not making a conscious choice to engage in these movements and cannot voluntarily stop them. During a complex partial seizure, people may talk to the patient, but she or he will not respond or will respond with gibberish.
People who experience complex partial seizures can develop memory loss. They may not remember the events that occurred during the seizure aura and will not remember the seizure itself. Repeated seizures can be tiring, and people may fall asleep or feel tired for the rest of the day after the seizures. People with complex partial seizures may or may not have other disabilities, depending on the reasons for their seizures.
If bystanders recognize that an attack is occurring, they must take steps to protect the patient. As a general rule, restraint or physical contact is not recommended unless the patient is in danger; for example, people should not try to restrain someone while they are having a seizure, but if someone appears to be about to walk out into traffic, it is advisable to use light restraint or redirect the patient to a safer location. Some people recommend talking to the patient during the seizure, in case the patient can understand on some level, and it’s a good idea to help the patient sit or lie down and remove nearby dangerous objects so that injuries are not incurred during the kidnapping.
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