Sleep deprivation and electroencephalographic abnormalities.

Thirty-three patients suspected of having a seizure disorder had routine electroencephalograms (EEG's) followed by post-sleep deprivation (P-SD) EEG's. The P-SD EEG's revealed abnormalities in 33% of those patients with a normal routine EEG. All of those patients with P-SD activation had histories highly suggestive of a seizure disorder. Most patients with normal P-SD EEG's were not highly suspect for seizures, however, several patients with probable seizures were also normal P-SD. Most patients with abnormal routine EEG's continue to show comparable abnormalities P-SD, with enhancement of abnormality in some cases and diminished abnormality in few cases.