Sexual and physical abuse among patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: A comparative study

Abstract

Introduction: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are the events with altered state of consciousness, sensations, perceptions, and involuntary motor activities which look similar to epilepsy but in the absence of any electrical discharges in the brain. The etiology of PNES is generally associated to psychosocial factors. Earlier traumatic life experiences, especially sexual abuses are considered as an important predisposing cause among PNES patients. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the current study was to survey various aspects of sexual and physical abuse in PNES patients and to compare it with epilepsy and healthy control group. Materials and Methods: Three groups (PNES, epilepsy, and healthy control) with 50 patients/participants in each were compared for the incidents of sexual and physical abuse. Semi-structured interview was conducted to explore the experiences of those patients/subjects who acknowledged about their traumas and consented to talk about it. Results: Incidents of sexual and physical abuse were found higher in the PNES group as compared to epilepsy and healthy controls. Other aspects of traumas such as nature, severity, frequency, psychological and physical consequences were found also comparable. Conclusion: PNES patients experienced more traumatic events which need to be explored for its therapeutic management.