Reflex absence epilepsy

Epilepsy can be triggered by many unusual mechanisms. Some are exceedingly rare and bizarre, seemingly confined to one patient. This article reports the case of a 20-year-old woman who has had absence epilepsy for 11 years that is evoked by thinking or talking about driving an automobile. This stimulus consistently precipitated absence seizures, as defined by clinical and electroencephalographic criteria. An emotionally traumatic early childhood event may play a role in the triggering mechanism. A similar case has not been reported.