Psychopathology and emotional deficits among patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: A comparative study

Abstract

Introduction: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs) are a neuropsychiatric condition involving involuntary episodes of movements, sensation, perception and behaviour which otherwise resemble epileptic seizures (ESs) but without any electrical discharges of brain cortices. High psychiatric comorbidity is found in PNES which may precipitate or perpetuate this condition. Moreover, disruption in emotional processing is attributed as the cause of its onset. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the broad psychopathological index and overall symptom distress along with emotional processing deficits as compared to epilepsy and control group. Materials and Methods: The study consisted of three groups, i.e., PNES (n = 37), ES (n = 30), and healthy control group (n = 37). Brief Symptom Inventory measuring nine dimensions of psychiatric symptoms and overall distress was applied for evaluating psychopathological profile of three groups. Emotional processing scale-25 was used to measure emotional processing deficits in five areas. Results: PNES group had higher number of females, higher symptoms of psychopathology, and increased overall symptom distress as compared to ES and control group. Similarly, PNES group showed more deficits while processing their emotions in all areas. Conclusion: Understanding psychopathology and emotional processing deficits in PNES provides clinicians a clearer picture and ready reference for devising biological and psychosocial interventions in these patients.