Symptomatology and prognosis in adolescent epilepsies (a study of 1033 cases)

A follow-up study was carried out on a group of 1033 epilepsy patients seen consecutively between 1955 and 1979. They were all aged between 11 and 19 years at the time of first seizure. Nine hundred and twelve patients were followed up for periods of 5-30 years. The aims of the study were (1) to test the practical applicability of the International Classification of Epilepsy and Epileptic Syndromes, and (2) to examine its prognostic value. The International Classification fitted this group of epileptic patients rather well. The prognosis of adolescent epilepsy varies with the particular syndrome, the probability of being in remission after 10 years ranging from 30 to 67%.