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Driving and epilepsy: a review and reappraisal

Article Abstract:

Epilepsy, a chronic brain condition characterized by seizures of varying intensity, affects 1 out of 25 people by the age of 80, and 1 in 10 will experience some type of seizure during a lifetime. Whether people with epilepsy present a driving risk is not entirely clear, because, although they do seem to have more accidents, women with epilepsy still have lower accident rates than men without epilepsy. Unfortunately, most reports have been based on anecdotal observations and uncontrolled studies. Other chronic diseases are less strictly regulated when it comes to driving privileges, although the accident rates may be no different from those of people with seizures. And only 11 percent of accidents involving drivers with epilepsy are due to seizures, and the accidents that do occur are less severe than average, and are less likely to involve another car or serious injury. To put epilepsy in perspective, it should be remembered also that alcohol consumption is implicated in half of all traffic deaths. The article covers risk factors for seizure recurrences, the effects of restricting drivers with seizures, driving regulations and restrictions, and other issues, such as automobile liability insurance, medical advisory boards, licensing issues, antiepileptic medication, commercial driving, and international standards. The opinions of the American Medical Association, experts on the issues of driving and epilepsy, and the view of the Epilepsy Foundation of America are summarized. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Laws, regulations and rules, Epilepsy, Automobile driving, Motor vehicle driving

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A population-based study of seizures after traumatic brain injuries

Article Abstract:

Traumatic brain injuries may increase the risk of seizure, even years after the injury. Researchers examined the medical records of 4,541 children and adults who had traumatic brain injuries, and compared the rates of seizure with rates in the general population. Overall, seizures were three times as likely among brain-injured people. Seizures were 17 times as common in people who had severe injuries. In patients who had mild brain injuries, the risk of seizure was doubled until five years after the injury. Bleeding around the brain after injury was a significant risk factor in seizure.

Complications and side effects, Head injuries, Subdural hematoma

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Risk of recurrent seizures after two unprovoked seizures

Article Abstract:

People who have more than one unprovoked seizure have a very high risk of having further seizures. Researchers followed 204 people who had had one unprovoked seizure and documented any subsequent seizures. After one seizure, the risk of a second seizure was only 33% but after two seizures, the risk of a third or fourth seizure was about 75%. Those with documented epilepsy were twice as likely to have a third or fourth seizure. Most of the recurring seizures occurred within one year of each other.

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