Thorbecke and Janz classified patients with epilepsy based on the level of occupational hazard.
Occupational hazard is a 7 point scale ranging from significant occupational hazard (occupationally disabling, level 1) to seizure free (allowed to drive commercial vehicle, level 7).
Different types of seizures:
(1) only during sleep
(2) unilateral jerks without loss of consciousness
(3) seizures impairing or interrupting ongoing activity
(4) seizures with falling
(5) seizures during which the person does not behave according to demands of the situation
|
Seizures Only During Sleep |
Level |
|
not more than 1 episode per month |
6 |
|
not more than 1 episode per week |
5 |
|
Unilateral Jerks Without Loss of Consciousness |
Level |
|
not more than 1 episode per week |
6 |
|
more than 1 episode per week |
4 |
|
Seizures Impairing/Interrupting Ongoing Activity |
Level |
|
not more than 1 episode in 6 months AND very brief |
5 |
|
not more than 1 episode in 1 month AND brief |
4 |
|
not more than 1 episode in 1 week |
3 |
|
more than 1 episode per week |
1 |
|
Seizures with Falling |
Level |
|
lasting less than 5 minutes (including reorientation) AND not more than 1 episode in 6 months |
4 |
|
lasting less than 5 minutes (including reorientation) AND not more than 1 episode in 1 month |
3 |
|
lasting less than 15 minutes (including reorientation) AND not more than 1 episode in 1 month |
2 |
|
lasting less than 15 minutes (including reorientation) AND not more than 1 episode per week |
1 |
|
Seizures With Behavior Inappropriate for Situational Demands |
Level |
|
not more than 1 episode in 6 months |
3 |
|
not more than 1 episode per month |
2 |
|
not more than 1 episode per week |
1 |
where:
• Not all frequency patterns are covered by the scale.
Purpose: To classify the impact of a seizure disorder on a patient's ability to work based on the scale of Thorbecke and Janz.
Specialty: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Neurology
Objective: severity, prognosis, stage, disability and performance
ICD-10: G40,
