Diagnostic Questions to Determine Whether Loss of Consciousness Is Due to Seizures or Syncope

<-- Waking with cut tongue
<-- Abnormal behavior noted*
<-- Loss of consciousness with emotional stress
<-- Postictal confusion
<-- Head turning to one side during loss of consciousness
<-- Prodromal deja vu or jamais vu
<-- Any presyncope
<-- Loss of consciousness with prolonged standing or sitting
<-- Diaphoresis before a spell

score->(v1)+(v2)+(v3)+(v4)+(v5)+(v6)+(v7)+(v8)+(v9)

*One or more of witnessed amnesia for abnormal behavior, witnessed unresponsiveness, unusual posturing or limb jerking.

The patient has seizures if the point score is more than equal to 1, and syncope if the point score is less than 1. Correctly classified 94% of patients, diagnosing seizures with 94% sensitivity and 94% specificity

Ref: Sheldon R, Rose S, Ritchie D, Connolly SJ, Koshman ML, Lee MA, Frenneaux M, Fisher M, Murphy W. Historical criteria that distinguish syncope from seizures. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2002 Jul 3;40(1):142-8. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S073510970201940X#TBLFN1
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