Types of generalized epileptic seizures

1. Big picture

Generalized epileptic seizures are seizures in which the abnormal epileptic discharge involves bilateral brain networks from the beginning, so the seizure is not explained by one clearly localized cortical focus. In the older exam-style classification used in your lecture, generalized seizures include:

absence, myoclonic, clonic, tonic, tonic-clonic, and atonic seizures.

Current International League Against Epilepsy terminology still keeps these clinically important seizure types, but groups generalized seizures broadly into absence seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, and other generalized seizure types. For the state exam, however, the classic list from the lecture is exactly what they usually ask.  

The examiner wants you to recognize the clinical pattern quickly: short staring spell = absence, morning jerks = myoclonic, sustained stiffening = tonic, rhythmic jerking = clonic, tonic phase followed by clonic jerking + postictal sleep = generalized tonic-clonic, sudden loss of tone and fall = atonic.