Classification of Nonconvulsive

There is no widely accepted classification of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) and any classification has its own strengths and flaws. The following article incorporates the two main proposals of the International League against Epilepsy (ILAE) and Shorvon for the classification of NCSE. In general, NCSE may be subdivided into the focal and (primary) generalized forms, and in those types occurring in critically ill patients with focal or generalized electroencephalographic patterns. In addition, there are age-specific forms of NCSE in the neonatal, early infancy and childhood periods. The generalized forms include typical and atypical absence status, de novo absence status of late onset and the myoclonic SE in idiopathic generalized epilepsies. The focal forms are split into those forms without impairment of consciousness, called “aura continua” (corresponding to the former “simple partial NCSE”) and those with impaired consciousness, called “dyscognitive SE” (corresponding to the former “complex-partial” or “psychomotor” SE). The latter is further subdivided into the “mesial temporal” (“limbic”) and the “neocortical” forms. The neonatal, early infancy and childhood forms of NCSE are only briefly discussed and listed in a table. A concise electroclinical case vignette may illustrate the principal features of each type of NCSE in adults.