Contribution of Current and Pst Traumatic Events to Pseudoseizures and Epilepsy.

Abstract

Comparative Study of Trauma-Related Phenomena in Subjects with Pseudoseizures and Subjects with Epilepsy Fleisher W, Staley D, Krawetz P, Pillay N, Arnett JL, Maher J Am J Psychiatry 2002;159:660–663 Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine potential differences in measures of trauma-related phenomena between subjects with pseudoseizures and subjects with intractable epilepsy. Methods Thirty-one adult subjects with pseudoseizures and 32 subjects with intractable epilepsy (confirmed by video-EEG) were recruited from the epilepsy unit of a tertiary care hospital. Each participant completed the Impact of Event Scale, the Davidson Trauma Scale, the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), the Dissociative Experience Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, as well as demographic, seizure history, and family-functioning measures. Results Subjects with pseudoseizures had significantly higher mean scores on the Davidson Trauma Scale, Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD, Impact of Event Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index than did subjects with epilepsy. In addition, a significantly higher percentage of subjects with pseudoseizures had scores above the clinical cutoff level of 30 on the Dissociative Experience Scale. Conclusions Subjects with pseudoseizures exhibited trauma-related profiles that differed significantly from those of epileptic comparison subjects and closely resembled those of individuals with a history of traumatic experiences. Interventions aimed at trauma-related issues may be beneficial for patients with pseudoseizures.