PROGRESSI IN EPILETTOLOGIA, 1980. ATTI DELLA 2a RIUNIONE CONGIUNTA FRANCO-ITALO-SPAGNOLA DELLE LEGHE CONTRO L'EPILESSIA, AIX EN PROVENCE (FRANCIA), 12-14 MAGGIO 1980

The 52 papers presented at this congress were divided into two main themes ('epilepsy and genetics' and 'complex partial seizures'), plus 21 'free communications' of which about half dealt with pharmacotherapy. The papers at the first session emphasized the importance of a proper methodic approach to this question. Recent advances in diagnosis have made possible the demonstration of acquired factors in many cases of epilepsy, but at the same time the area of 'essential' epilepsy has been constricted by the discovery of new, hereditary, metabolic diseases. The sessions on the second theme enjoyed the participation of the leading specialists in this specific area. It is pointed out that the recognition of complex partial seizures as an entity which is probably distinct from temporal lobe epilepsy has depended to a large extent on the development of depth recording techniques and must lead to a reconsideration of the significance of temporal lobe epilepsy.