Six cases of psychotic episodes are described which in some way or another resemble petit mal status, but differ from it in their time courses and in exhibiting focal epileptic discharge besides the bilateral synchronous EEG pattern. These cases are compared with 6 cases more consistent with Lennox’s notion [1960] of petit mal status. Consideration of our own and similar cases from the literature and certain experimental findings lead to the following conclusions: (1) There is no doubt that the bilateral synchronous EEG potentials during so-called ‘centrencephalic’ petit mal status give but a gross and distorted view of the complex electric processes going on in the brain. The existence of different epileptic discharges arising in different brain areas and often mingling into each other is highly probable. (2) In accordance with current neurophysiological theories, the existence of inhibitive processes occurring simultaneously with the various epileptic discharges is accepted. Thus widespread systems of collaborating neurons are left functionally intact. (3) A correlation of level of consciousness with the volumes and locations of involved neurons versus functionally intact neurons is suggested. (4) Evidence for the assumption of epileptic discharge in pararhinal structures during psychotic episodes, often associated with ‘forced normalization’, although not conclusive, must be taken into consideration. (5) Further study of atypical petit mal status might give more detailed information about these questions.