Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
Ictal
Pronunciation: IK-tal
Relating to or occurring during a seizure event.
Full Definition
The ictal period refers to the actual seizure event itself, from onset to termination. This term is crucial for medical editors as it distinguishes the seizure phase from pre-seizure (preictal) and post-seizure (postictal) periods. Documentation must precisely specify whether symptoms or findings occurred during the ictal phase to ensure accurate clinical interpretation.
Usage
Usage note: Always lowercase unless beginning a sentence. Distinguish carefully from interictal in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "The patient exhibited automatisms during the ictal period." — Clinical observation report
- "Ictal EEG changes were recorded from the left temporal region." — Electroencephalography report
Contrasted with
interictal
postictal
preictal
Don't confuse with
interictal