Detection of Fainters and Epileptics in a Young Adult Population

A screening procedure for the detection of fainters and of epileptics was tested on 212 university student volunteers. No subject in this series gave a history of epilepsy but four definitely abnormal electroencephalograms were recorded. As a supplement to routine electroencephalography various circulatory stresses were applied with the subject sitting upright. The application of needle electrodes to the scalp was itself a potent stimulus to fainting. Under these conditions 16 of the 21 subjects with a history of repeated fainting were detected by their cardiovascular response to electrode placement or ocular compression. The use of painless pad electrodes reduced the total stress and produced inferior results. By careful adjustment of total stress intensity the majority of habitual fainters can be detected.