20 - Musicogenic Epilepsy

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the characteristics of musicogenic epilepsy. This epilepsy is a disorder where auditory features are important, and in particular those of musical type. Musicogenic epilepsy is one form of reflex epilepsy, a disorder in which a seizure follows immediately after the patient is exposed to a particular stimulus. It is a disorder in which the specific stimulus can be auditory, visual, or in other modalities of sensation. The reflex epilepsies are all rare types of seizure disorder. Patients with musicogenic epilepsy usually find that the appropriate provocative musical precipitant to their attacks produces unpleasant emotional changes. Musicogenic epilepsy tends to occur more often in musically talented people. Patients with musicogenic epilepsy clearly remembers what precipitate the attacks, for example, a particular tune played in a special way. Most cases of musicogenic epilepsy, like the majority of the patients who have reflex epilepsies, do not present any serious therapeutic problem, as they respond to conventional anticonvulsant medication. However, there are two other possible methods that have been adopted in the treatment of musicogenic epilepsy in resistant cases. In the first method, the patient is desensitized to music using a behavior therapy technique, and in the second method, a psychotherapeutic approach is adopted for patients in whom there is a marked emotional element.