This volume is a second undertaking - following the proceedings of the first workshop published in 1982 under the title Genetic Basis of the Epilepsies -to review our current knowledge on the genetics of epilepsies. It also developed from a workshop held in Berlin in September 1986. It contains the papers presented by the speakers, but is revised to incorporate the results of the stimulating discussions. The main goals of the book are to stimulate communication across traditional disciplinary lines and further collaborative research, as well as to provide pediatricians, neurologists, and geneticists with a basic knowledge for genetic counselling while at the same time putting emphasis on the evidence of heterogeneity in this field. This book contains separate sections on population rates, family studies on selected syndromes, genetics of EEG characteristics, morbidity risk in offspring, and special methods and topics. Among the topics covered are the prospective evaluation of seizure morbidity in offspring of epileptic patients and the relationship of pharmacogenetics to epilepsy, two questions of current interest. The editors are greatly indebted to Mrs. Ilsebill Brookes, secretary of the Department of Neurology, Universitatsklinikum Rudolf Virchow, Free University Berlin, for her valuable assistance in planning and arranging the workshop. Major funding was provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; Stiftung Michael; Freie Universitat Berlin; Boehringer, Ingelheim; Ciba-Geigy, Frankfurt; Desitin, Hamburg; Hoff- mann-La Roche, Grenzach; Knoll, Ludwigshafen; Labaz, Munich; Nordmark, Uetersen; Parke-Davis, Munich, and Schering, Berlin. The editors are indebted to these institutions and firms for their generous support.