enkeltepisoder

Enkeltepisoder is a Norwegian term that refers to individual, distinct episodes of symptoms or events that occur only once or infrequently, as opposed to recurring or chronic episodes. The concept is used across several fields, most often in medicine and psychology, but also in other domains where events are episodic rather than continuous.

In medical and clinical contexts, enkelteepisoder describes a single identifiable episode of illness or symptomatology. In psychiatry, classifications sometimes distinguish a single-episode course from a recurrent course, with implications for prognosis and treatment planning. For example, a person with a single-episode mood disorder may have a different risk of future episodes compared with someone whose condition recurs over time. In neurology, a solitary seizure might be described as an isolated event rather than epilepsy, depending on the risk of subsequent seizures and the overall clinical picture. The designation often depends on the observation period and the clinical judgement of the healthcare provider.

The term is also used more broadly to describe non-recurring events in other domains, such as dermatology or gastroenterology, where symptoms or flares occur as discrete episodes rather than as a continuous process.

Limitations to note include that an episode may appear to be single at one point in time but later be followed by additional episodes, so the classification can change with new information. Overall, enkelteepisoder helps convey the episodic nature of a condition and informs expectations for prognosis and management. See also terms for recurrent episodes and relapse.