Prenuptial seizures: a report of five cases.

The cases of 5 patients with seizures occurring the day of or shortly before their weddings are presented. Major life events may precipitate or exacerbate epileptic or nonepileptic seizures as a result of 1) missed medications, 2) sleep deprivation, 3) alcohol or concomitant medications, 4) hyperventilation, or 5) the emotional state directly or stress indirectly. Seizures occurring at times of psychological stress may be either neurological or psychiatric in origin. The physician treating patients with a new onset or exacerbation of seizures around a major life event must consider all of these factors in the evaluation.