Epileptic seizures evoked by card games, draughts, and similar games

Three Asian patients, since adolescence, had myoclonic jerks and tonic-clonic seizures during card games, draughts, and a local game "punchi." Interictal EEG showed generalized bisynchronous atypical 3-Hz spike and wave discharges. Test procedures evoked EEG dysrhythmia and clinical seizures in two patients. These patients and previously reported cases have the seizure disorder juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (impulsive petit mal), which seems particularly sensitive to provocation by cognitive functions, especially decision making. Myoclonic epilepsy is considered resistant to antiepileptic drugs other than clonazepam and valproate, but two of our patients responded well to clobazam.