The course of a disease and the outlook afforded by the knowledge of it form the basis for defining prognosis. Control, when applied to epilepsy, means lack of seizures with use of medication.
Remission means lack of seizures and no use of medication.
Prognosis for medical control of generalized and partial seizures has improved with better methods for assessment, introduction of new drugs, and more rational use of older agents. Simultaneous EEG and video monitoring has improved diagnostic accuracy. A good outcome is achieved in 60 to 65 percent of patients with new-onset seizures treated with a single drug. Poor seizure control also is associated with impaired social adjustment, multiple types of seizures with abnormalities on EEG, delay in the start of treatment for more than one year, and frequent seizures. Some studies show a five-year remission in at least 70 percent of patients who were followed for 20 years.