Diagnostic Questions to Determine Whether Loss of Consciousness Is Due to Seizures or Syncope
not present / not known
present
<-- Waking with cut tongue
not present / not known
present
<-- Abnormal behavior noted*
not present / not known
present
<-- Loss of consciousness with emotional stress
not present / not known
present
<-- Postictal confusion
not present / not known
present
<-- Head turning to one side during loss of consciousness
not present / not known
present
<-- Prodromal deja vu or jamais vu
not present / not known
present
<-- Any presyncope
not present / not known
present
<-- Loss of consciousness with prolonged standing or sitting
not present / not known
present
<-- 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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