Psychogenic Nonepileptic Events Research Articles

Psychogenic nonepileptic “seizures ” or “attacks”? It's not just semantics: Attacks

# {#article-title-2} To the Editor: I agree with Dr. Benbadis.1 There is no advantage to keeping the word “seizures” in the phrase “psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.” But I also disagree with using the word “attack.” Who wants to have an attack? In addition, telling patients that they have “psychogenic” seizures can be deleterious to the patient–physician relationship. I think that the best term to use is “nonepileptic spells.” It is short, simple, and does not have a negative connotation. # {#article-title-3} To the Editor: We read the articles by Drs. Benbadis1 and LaFrance2 with great interest. They consider removing the word “seizures” from the phrase “psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.” Dr. Benbadis contends that this word leads to unnecessary confusion in patients and caregivers while Dr. LaFrance makes a spirited defense for retaining the term. Dr. LaFrance argues that a seizure is not synonymous with an epileptic attack. Patients with psychogenic nonepileptic events are exceedingly hard to cure and they often reject their diagnosis. As a result, many are lost to follow-up. It has been reported that a substantial minority of patients became spell-free with communication of the diagnosis as the only intervention. Many patients stopped using emergency services, regardless of whether spells continued.3 Communication is key: telling patients that they do not have seizures may take away their false sense of security and may alienate them. In our experience, informing patients that they have seizures—but not of epileptic origin—fosters trust between the patient and the physician. This good will makes the patient more amenable to seeing a psychiatrist for cognitive behavioral therapy. # {#article-title-4} To the Editor: Not only is the term “seizures” …

Characteristics of psychogenic nonepileptic events among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: An association of semiology with the nature of trauma

Various psychiatric disorders can contribute to psychogenic nonepileptic events (PNEEs), including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We hypothesize that among patients with PNEEs and PTSD, the nature of the traumatic experience leading to PTSD has an association with the clinical manifestations of PNEEs. We found that the presence of PTSD, in general, did not demonstrate significant association with any particular PNEE semiology in a veterans population. However, 11 of 12 (91.7%) subjects with PNEEs and specifically combat-related PTSD showed significant predilection for hypomotor or nonmotor PNEEs, as compared to 5 of 12 (41.7%) subjects with PNEE and non-combat-related PTSD ( P = 0.027). Between these two subgroups of subjects with PTSD, there were no statistical differences in the rating of service-connected disability for “seizures,” presence of psychiatric history other than PTSD, marital status, substance abuse history, and use of antiepileptic drugs. Timely diagnosis of PNEEs can be especially relevant to veterans with combat-related PTSD, whose PNEE manifestations may be subtle and erringly overlooked.

A Prospective Study on the Cost-Effective Utilization of Long-Term Inpatient Video-EEG Monitoring in a Developing Country

To investigate diagnostic value, therapeutic benefit and cost-effective utilization of video-EEG monitoring (VEM) in a comprehensive epilepsy program in a developing country. The authors prospectively recruited all patients who underwent long-term (> or =3 hours) inpatient VEM during a 10-month period. The cohort was followed to gather information about the proportion of patients in whom long-term management was altered by VEM and resultant impact on direct health care costs. Out of 143 study subjects (median age 22 years), 102 (71.3%) were referred for presurgical evaluation. The median duration of VEM was 61 hours, and median number of events recorded per patient was 3. Video-EEG monitoring helped to clarify the epilepsy syndromic diagnosis in 123 of 132 (93.2%) patients referred with the diagnosis of epileptic seizures. Video-EEG monitoring confirmed coexistent complex partial seizures in 4 of 11 (36.4%) patients with a referral diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic events. During mean follow-up period of 2.2 years, 48 patients (33.6%) underwent epilepsy surgery. A significant decrease in antiepileptic drug polytherapy, and minimization in recurring direct medical and nonmedical costs occurred. In addition to immediate diagnostic usefulness, VEM contributes significantly to long-term therapeutic and economic benefits for patients with difficult to diagnose and treat paroxysmal events.

Utility of Daily Supervised Hyperventilation During Long-Term Video-EEG Monitoring

Hyperventilation (HV) is most effective in activation of generalized absence seizures during routine EEG studies. It is also used as an activation technique in the epilepsy monitoring unit, with limited data on its utility. This prospective study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of daily hyperventilation sessions in precipitating events in the epilepsy monitoring unit. The authors performed hyperventilation for 3 minutes on a daily basis on patients admitted to our epilepsy monitoring unit. They considered events to be activated by HV if they occurred during or within 3 minutes of the procedure. They asked the patient if the precipitated event was typical, and compared the precipitated events to those that occurred spontaneously during the monitoring period. They evaluated 79 consecutive patients; 54 had localization related epilepsy, 24 had psychogenic nonepileptic events only, and 1 patient had spells of unknown nature. Six patients with epilepsy had epileptic seizure activation (three auras, two complex partial seizures and one secondarily generalized tonic clonic seizures), and eight patients with nonepileptic spells had precipitation of nonepileptic events. Two patients with both epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic events had a nonepileptic event activated. Spontaneous and activated epileptic seizures did not differ in their clinical characteristics. Daily supervised HV is effective in inducing partial seizures as well as psychogenic nonepileptic events in the epilepsy monitoring unit. Daily HV may be effective in shortening the duration of video EEG monitoring, consequently reducing its cost.

Sensitivity and specificity of video alone versus electroencephalography alone for the diagnosis of partial seizures

We examined the usefulness of video versus EEG in isolation for the differentiation of epileptic seizures (ES) from psychogenic nonepileptic events (PNEE). Video-EEG recordings of 43 events in 43 patients (27 with ES and 16 with PNEE) were analyzed by experienced clinical epileptologists/electroencephalographers blinded to the patients’ clinical histories. Both the video and EEG were scored independently by the same reader for each event. Relying on video recordings alone, the readers correctly identified ES with a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 94%. Based on EEG data alone, the readers correctly identified ES with a sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 94%. Semiologically, a gradual evolving buildup of visible symptoms, reaching maximal behavioral intensity within 70 seconds of event onset, was a reliable indicator of ES. No patient with ES demonstrated eye closure at the time of peak behavioral manifestations. Although several additional semiologic features were statistically associated with either ES or PNEE, they were less reliably present and, hence, less clinically useful. Correct categorization of some neurobehavioral events can be made by experienced epileptologists on the basis of video or EEG recordings during an event, without simultaneous review of both provided that the full event is recorded. Home video recordings may represent a useful screening tool for a subset of patients with neurobehavioral events of unclear etiology.

Hypnosis-provoked nonepileptic events in children

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the use of hypnotic suggestion as a means of precipitating nonepileptic events in children while they are undergoing video electroencephalographic monitoring (VEEG) for differential diagnosis of seizurelike behavior. Methods Nine children aged 8–16 years were referred for VEEG to differentiate between epileptic seizures and nonepileptic events. All subjects underwent psychiatric consultation. Hypnosis was attempted in all subjects to try to provoke typical seizurelike events. Results In eight of nine patients, their typical seizurelike events were provoked by hypnosis. In all eight children, video and EEG analysis of the provoked events demonstrated them to be nonepileptic. No epileptiform abnormalities were present on interictal EEGs. No epileptic seizures occurred. Conclusion Hypnosis is a useful and ethical means of provoking psychogenic nonepileptic events in children. Hypnotic suggestion should be considered as a provocative method when possibly psychogenic nonepileptic events have not occurred spontaneously during diagnostic evaluation.

Cognition-induced epilepsy associated with specific emotional precipitants

A 32-year-old woman with primary generalized epilepsy described absence events precipitated by talking about childhood sexual abuse, her epilepsy, or her father’s difficulties with schizophrenia. She was referred for assessment of suspected psychogenic nonepileptic events. During simultaneous video/EEG monitoring, 30 absence seizures were recorded, 28 of which occurred while discussing one of these three specific precipitants. No nonepileptic events were seen. This finding highlights the importance of thorough investigation of ambiguous events, and confirms that specific emotional precipitants can induce seizures in susceptible people with epilepsy.

The diagnosis and management of pseudoseizures or psychogenic non-epileptic events

Pseudoseizures or psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are often misdiagnosed as epilepsy. This review discusses what is known about PNES, the importance of differentiating PNES from epileptic seizures (ES), avoiding iatrogenic harm and of identifying and managing the underling psychological stressors to optimise outcome. Clinical suspicion and careful history taking with witness accounts is mandatory. Supportive investigations including video-EEG (VEEG) and the utility of VEEG and provocation are discussed. Resources to diagnose and manage PNES are an issue for most countries and clinical expertise may also be lacking. VEEG is an expensive diagnostic tool and there is variable collaboration between neurology and psychiatry which will influence how patients are managed. Confounding this, is the lack of evidence for best practice in managing PNES. The prognosis for the majority of patients with PNES appears to be poor, despite a wider recognition of the problem. Well conducted studies are needed to test the different treatment options.

Adding Video Recording Increases the Diagnostic Yield of Routine Electroencephalograms in Children with Frequent Paroxysmal Events

To report on the usefulness of adding video recording to routine EEG studies of infants and children with frequent paroxysmal events. We analyzed the efficacy of this diagnostic means during a 4-year period. The decision whether to add video recording was made by the pediatric EEG interpreter at the time of the study. Studies were planned to last between 20 and 30 min, and, if needed, were extended by the EEG interpreter. For most studies, video recording was added from the beginning of EEG recording. In a minority of cases, the addition of video was implemented during the first part of the EEG test, as clinical events became obvious. In these cases, a new study (file) was begun. The success rate was analyzed according to the indications for the EEG study: paroxysmal eye movements, tremor, suspected seizures, myoclonus, staring episodes, suspected stereotypias and tics, absence epilepsy follow-up, cyanotic episodes, and suspected psychogenic nonepileptic events. Video recording was added to 137 of 666 routine studies. Mean patient age was 4.8 years. The nature of the event was determined in 61 (45%) of the EEG studies. Twenty-eight percent were hospitalized patients. The average study duration was 26 min. This diagnostic means was particularly useful for paroxysmal eye movements, staring spells, myoclonic jerks, stereotypias, and psychogenic nonepileptic events. About 46% of 116 patients for whom cognitive data were available were mentally retarded. EEG with added video recording was successfully performed in all 116 cases and provided useful information in 29 (55%) of these 53 patients. Adding video recording to routine EEG was helpful in 45% of cases referred for frequent paroxysmal events. This technique proved useful for hospitalized children as well as for outpatients. Moreover, it was successfully applied in cognitively impaired patients. Infants and children with paroxysmal eye movements, staring spells, myoclonic jerks, stereotypias, and pseudoseizures especially benefited from this diagnostic means. Because of its low cost and the little discomfort imposed on the patient and his or her family, this technique should be considered as a first diagnostic step in children with frequent paroxysmal events.

Inferences from a community study about non-epileptic events.

To demonstrate the epidemiological importance of the different types of non-epileptic events (NEE) in a low-income urban community. The patients suspected of having epilepsy, who were detected in the first phase (screening one) of this prevalence study, were interviewed by a neurologist in a non-structured neurological interview. These NEE were classified as physiological and psychogenic, subdivided by various types. The psychogenic NEE were classified according to the DSM-IV criteria. We compared the cases suspected of having epilepsy (n=176) with those not suspected (n=806) and discovered that those cases suspected of having epilepsy had a greater median age (<0.01) and female predominance (p<0.01). Among the cases suspected of having epilepsy there were different diagnosis: epileptic events without identifiable cause (n=20) or with identifiable causes (e.g., febrile convulsions and eclampsia). The most prevalent diagnosis for those suspected of having epilepsy was syncope (n=63; 35.8%). In terms of physiological events, the most frequent were: epileptic seizures, paroxysmal toxic phenomena (including alcoholism) and brain trauma, besides syncope; in terms of psychogenic events the most frequent were: dissociative and anxiety disorders. Regarding gender differences, paroxysmal toxic problems were significantly more prevalent in men (p= 0.02), and dissociative disorders (p=0.01) in women. This survey confirms the epidemiological importance of syncope in a populational sample with NEE. However, among the psychogenic disorders of this NEE sample, the most frequent were dissociative and anxiety phenomena. This finding contrasts with the literature based on samples from tertiary epileptic centers with video-EEG resources, which found somatoform disorders to be more prevalent than dissociative and anxiety phenomena.

Improving diagnostic procedure and treatment in patients with non-epileptic seizures (NES)

The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of patients with NES vs. NES and concomitant epilepsy in an epilepsy centre and to present a diagnostic algorithm. We collected and reviewed the data of 322 patients consecutively referred to the adult ward of our epilepsy centre in 1 year. The results of our study reveal that 44 (14%) of all patients referred had NES. Of these, nine proved to have concomitant epilepsy. Of 44 patients with NES, 20 were treated with AED on admission. In 14 cases this unnecessary antiepileptic drug treatment was stopped. In six remaining patients with NES and concomitant epilepsy, the total number of AEDs could be reduced until discharge. The maximum duration of AED treatment among patients with NES only, had been longer than 360 months (median 72 months).Much has been written about whether the diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic events is overused. According to our experience however, the fact that many patients with so-called ‘pharmacoresistant epilepsy’, suspected NES or other diagnoses are referred to a centre of excellence much too late, proves to be the key problem in diagnosis and treatment of NES.We conclude that early admission of so-called ‘pharmacoresistant epilepsy’ to an epilepsy centre, establishing a standard work-up and clarifying the medical terminology will improve diagnosis and lead to adequate therapy of NES as well as prevent unnecessary drug treatment.

Nonepileptic seizure outcome varies by type of spell and duration of illness.

To determine whether differences in clinical manifestations of psychogenic nonepileptic events are associated with differences in outcome and whether the length of illness before diagnosis correlates with outcome. We reviewed ictal videotapes and EEGs in 85 patients diagnosed with exclusively nonepileptic psychogenic seizures during inpatient CCTV-EEG monitoring at the University of Michigan between June 1994 and December 1996. They were classified into groups of similar ictal behaviors. Fifty-seven of these patients were available to respond to a follow-up telephone survey about their condition 2-4 years after discharge. We examined demographics, baseline EEG abnormalities, and outcome of treatment interventions. We also evaluated whether interventions were more likely to succeed if patients were diagnosed early in the course of the illness. We found that the largest groups consisted of patients with motionless unresponsiveness ("catatonic," n = 19) and asynchronous motor movements with impaired responsiveness ("thrashing," n = 19). Infrequent signs included tremor, automatisms, subjective events with amnesia, and intermittent behaviors. There was a higher incidence of baseline EEG abnormalities in the thrashing group (31%) than in the catatonic group (0%). There was a higher incidence of complete remission of spells in the catatonic group (53%) than in the thrashing group (21%). Patients who had a more recent onset of seizures (most often within 1 year) were much more likely to have remission of spells after diagnosis. Classification of nonepileptic seizures is useful in predicting outcome and may be valuable in further investigation of this complex set of disorders.

Are we overusing the diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic events?

In order to determine how often results of video/EEG (V-EEG) studies may change the clinical diagnosis of paroxysmal events, we prospectively studied 100 consecutive patients (75 females, 25 males) admitted for diagnosis of recurrent paroxysmal spells. The presumed diagnosis of the referring physician was obtained. Episodes were classified as epileptic seizures (ES), psychogenic non-epileptic events (PNEE), or physiologic non-epileptic events (PhysNEE). Eighty-seven patients had diagnostic events. A final diagnosis of ES was made in 21 patients, PNEE in 39, PNEE + ES in 20, and PhysNEE in seven. All PhysNEE were unsuspected. ES were misdiagnosed as PNEE more frequently than the reverse (57% vs. 12%, P< 0.001). Among the 64 patients with recorded events who had been suspected of having PNEE, 14 (21.9%) were misdiagnosed: two had PhysNEE and 12 (18.75%) had ES. Among the 23 patients with recorded events who were thought to have ES, 12 (39.1%) were misdiagnosed: seven had PNEE, five PhysNEE. V-EEG changed the clinical diagnosis in 29.8% of the patients with recorded events. Our data suggests that clinicians have become more aware of PNEE since the advent of V-EEG and have little problem recognizing them. However, they may be more prone to make a false-positive diagnosis of PNEE in ES with some atypical features. At this point, efforts should be channeled to better training in the proper recognition of ES that mimic PNEE.

When should induction protocols be used in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with paroxysmal events?

To determine the timing of spontaneous psychogenic nonepileptic events (PNEE) during video-EEG telemetry (VEEG), and the need to use induction protocols (IP). We studied 100 consecutive patients (75 females, 25 males) admitted to our inpatient VEEG unit from July 1994 to June 1996 for differential diagnosis of paroxysmal events. We recorded the time to the first diagnostic spontaneous event, identified by the patient or a family member as typical. Episodes were classified as PNEE, physiologic nonepileptic events (PhysNEE), and epileptic seizures (ES). The mean duration of VEEG was 74+/-SD 54.1 h. In 82 patients, a diagnostic event occurred spontaneously. The first event was an ES in 22 patients, a PNEE in 53, and a PhysNEE in 7. The time to first diagnostic event was significantly shorter for PNEE than for ES [15.0+/-SD 16.3 h (range 5 min to 58 h) vs. 28.6+/-SD 34.0 h (range 1-110 h) F=15.621, p < 0.0001]. In the first 24 h, 77.4% of the patients with PNEE had an event. By 48 h, all but 2 (96.2%) had had diagnostic events. After the first 58 h of monitoring, all patients with PNEE experienced a spontaneous diagnostic event. Spontaneous events can be expected to occur within 48 h in most patients with PNEE. Therefore, if IP are to be used as a diagnostic tool, we suggest that they be withheld during the initial 48 h of VEEG monitoring.