Generalized*		Localization-related (partial or focal)†
Idiopathic‡	Seizure types: absence, myoclonic, tonic-clonic		Seizure types: simple partial (awareness unimpaired), complex partial (awareness impaired), secondarily generalized tonic-clonic
	Neurologic examination: normal		Neurologic examination: normal
	Neuroimaging: normal		Neuroimaging: normal
	EEG: Normal background with fast (3 to 6 Hz) generalized spike-and-wave discharges		EEG: Normal background with focal epileptiform discharges
	Common examples:		Common examples:
		Childhood absence epilepsy Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy Epilepsy with generalized tonic-clonic seizures on awakening		Benign childhood epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (Rolandic epilepsy) Benign epilepsy with occipital paroxysms
	Treatment: valproate (Depakote), ethosuximide (Zarontin [effective for absence seizures only]), lamotrigine (Lamictal), topiramate (Topamax), felbamate (Felbatol)		Treatment: carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin)
Symptomatic¶	Seizure types: atypical absence, myoclonic, tonic, atonic, tonic-clonic		Seizure types: simple partial (awareness unimpaired), complex partial (awareness impaired), secondarily generalized tonic-clonic
	Neurologic examination: diffuse or multifocal abnormalities		Neurologic examination: focal abnormalities or normal
	Neuroimaging: diffuse or multifocal abnormalities common		Neuroimaging: focal abnormalities common
	EEG: Abnormal background with slow (<3 Hz) generalized and/or multifocal epileptiform discharges		EEG: Normal or abnormal background with focal or multifocal epileptiform discharges
	Common examples:		Common examples:
		Lennox-Gastaut syndrome		Temporal lobe epilepsy
		Progressive myoclonus epilepsies		Frontal lobe epilepsy
	Treatment: valproate, lamotrigine, topiramate, felbamate, ketogenic diet, corpus callosotomy		Treatment: carbamazepine, phenytoin, valproate, new agents (gabapentin [Neurontin], lamotrigine, tiagabine [Gabitril] topiramate, felbamate), vagus nerve stimulator, resective surgery