Nonepileptic Seizures: An Overview

Barry, John J.

doi:10.1017/s1092852900001061

Cited by 9 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Frontal lobe seizures often are mistaken for PNES because of the associated dramatic motor and vocal outbursts, possible retained consciousness, and short postictal period. Frontal lobe seizures may be distinguished by their brief duration, stereotypical nature, and tendency to begin during sleep (19,20). Gelastic seizures (in which the primary automatism is laughter), reflex epilepsies, and myoclonic jerks also have been mistaken for PNES.…”

Section: The Semiology Of Pnesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Approach to patients with ‘psychogenic non-epileptic seizures’: a review /

Zincir¹,

Yenel²,

Semiz³

2012

Dusunen Adam

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Reviews ABSTRACTApproach to patients with 'psychogenic non-epileptic seizures': a review Several terms have been used for pseudo-seizures, including psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), psychogenic seizures, hysterical seizures and hysteroepilepsy. Among them, the term 'non-epileptic seizures' is preffered. PNES outwardly may appear similar to epilepsy, but are caused purely by emotion. PNES are defined by modern psychiatry as conversion and dissociative disorders, but these disorders may coexist with many other psychiatric disorders including depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and personality disorders. The aim of this article is to describe and to compare similarities and differences in epidemiological, psychiatric and semiologic variables between patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures and other patients with epilepsy. Understanding the nature of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures is necessary in order to reach the right diagnosis based on clinical symptoms and signs. Once a firm diagnosis has been reached, presenting that diagnosis to the individual patient is the first, and one of the most important part of the treatment. Nonepileptic seizures, also reffered to as pseudoseizures, are paroxysmal behaviors with psychological comorbidities and are unresponsive to treatment with antiepileptic drugs. Systematic comparisons between patients with recent onset psychogenic seizures and patients with recent onset non-psychogenic seizures may lead to a better understanding of psychological concomitants and perhaps the aetiology of psychogenic seizures. A traumatic experience may be a potential risk factor for patients with PNES. The evidence suggests that a history of childhood abuse might be involved in the aetiology of at least some cases of psychogenic seizures. Such studies are important considering the early differential diagnosis of true epileptic versus psychogenic fits is notoriously difficult.

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Section: The Semiology Of Pnesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Approach to patients with ‘psychogenic non-epileptic seizures’: a review /

Zincir¹,

Yenel²,

Semiz³

2012

Dusunen Adam

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“…In many cases, however, even after the diagnosis is presented in a supportive and educational manner, NES continue. Furthermore, the disability associated with NES often persists even with NES cessation (69).…”

Section: Research In Nesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Treatment of Nonepileptic Seizures: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions

2004

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Summary: Nonepileptic seizures (NES) are neuropsychiatric disorders presenting with a combination of neurologic signs and underlying psychological conflicts. For more than a century, the medical community has accumulated data and insights about the phenomenology, epidemiology, risks, comorbidities, and prognosis of NES. However, we have not progressed much beyond anecdotal reports of treatments for NES, and no randomized, controlled trials of treatment for the disorder have been conducted. We review the diagnosis and treatment of NES and suggest directions for future research in these areas. Key Words: Nonepileptic seizures-PsychogenicPseudoseizures-Pseudoepilepsy-Hysterical seizures-Nonepileptic attack disorder-Diagnosis-Video EEG-Psychotherapy-Pharmacotherapy-Combined treatment-Serotonin.Nonepileptic seizures (NES) resemble epileptic seizures in that they can present as a sudden, involuntary, time-limited alteration in behavior, motor activity, autonomic function, consciousness, or sensation. However, unlike epilepsy, NES do not result from epileptogenic pathology and are not accompanied by an epileptiform electrographic ictal pattern. The presentation of this neuropsychiatric syndrome has fascinated and confounded neurologists and psychiatrists for centuries.As the divided fields of neurology and psychiatry are being reunified, a joint perspective of the mind/brain conceptualization is gaining prominence (1). An increasing understanding of the paroxysmal disorders in neurology and psychiatry is one of the commonalities shared between the currently dichotomized disciplines. These disorders include migraine, stroke/transient ischemic attack, epilepsy, tics, bipolar/mood disorders, and panic disorder, in which symptoms and signs present acutely or subacutely and then remit. The decade of the brain brought great therapeutic advances for many of these disorders. Nonepileptic seizures, which are commonly occurring paroxysmal disorders, are still situated in the gap between neurology and psychiatry, and treatment remains poorly studied. Also known as pseudoseizures and hysterical seizures, and by many other names in years past (2),

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Epilepsy

LaFrance

Kanner

2006

Psychiatry for Neurologists

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Nonepileptic Seizures: An Overview

Cited by 9 publications

References 32 publications

Approach to patients with ‘psychogenic non-epileptic seizures’: a review /

Approach to patients with ‘psychogenic non-epileptic seizures’: a review /

The Treatment of Nonepileptic Seizures: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions

Epilepsy

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