[Differential diagnosis of cerebral seizures]

Several non-epileptic disorders may cause episodic and paroxysmal symptoms that resemble epilepsy and they must be considered in the differential diagnosis. Some of these disorders are discussed in the present review: vasovagal, vasomotor and cardiac syncopes, breath holding spells. Among the sleep disorders, parasomnias, nightmares and the benign neonatal sleep myoclonus are mentioned. Migraine with aura, alternating hemiplegia and benign vertigo of childhood are probably related disorders. Benign myoclonus of early infancy, paroxysmal choreoathetoses and pseudoepileptic or hysterical seizures are further non-epileptic attack disorders to be considered in the differential diagnosis.