Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

Which type of seizure affects the entire brain and includes both tonic clonic and absence seizures?

1. Complex partial seizures

2. Generalized seizures

3. Status epilepticus

4. Simple partial seizures

The correct answer is: Generalized seizures

The correct answer is generalized seizures, which encompass a wide range of seizure types that impact the entire brain rather than just a focal area. This category includes both tonic-clonic seizures, characterized by muscle stiffening followed by rhythmic jerking, and absence seizures, which involve brief lapses of consciousness where the individual may not respond to external stimuli. Generalized seizures arise from widespread electrical discharges in the brain, leading to a comprehensive effect that can manifest in various ways, depending on the specific type of generalized seizure. Tonic-clonic and absence seizures are both distinguished by their specific characteristics but ultimately fall under the umbrella of generalized seizures, highlighting their shared origin in the entire brain's electrical activity. Other types of seizures, such as complex partial and simple partial seizures, only affect localized areas of the brain and do not have the same widespread impact on consciousness and motor control that generalized seizures do. Additionally, status epilepticus refers to a prolonged seizure state, typically characterized by continuous or recurrent seizures without recovery in between, which is distinct from the types of seizures outlined in the question.