I am passing on this informative guide is to help educate our clients on PNES. A condition that is not uncommon in our practice.
Psychogenic (Non-Epileptic) Seizures (PNES)
A Guide
for Patients & Families
Selim R. Benbadis, MD Leanne Heriaud, RN
Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
College of Medicine
Comprehensive Epilepsy Program
Selim R. Benbadis, MD
Associate Professor
Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery Director, Comprehensive Epilepsy Program and Clinical Neurophysiology Laboratory University of South Florida &
Tampa General Hospital
(813) 259-0605
sbenbadi@hsc.usf.edu http://hsc.usf.edu/~sbenbadi/
Leanne Heriaud, RN, BSN
Coordinator, Comprehensive Epilepsy Program Tampa General Hospital
(813) 844-4675
lheriaud@tgh.org
Psychogenic (non-epileptic) seizures: A guide for patients & families
WHAT ARE PSYCHOGENIC NON-EPILEPTIC SEIZURES?
I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS. IS IT RARE?
HOW CAN WE BE SURE THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT DIAGNOSIS?
A seizure is a temporary loss of control, often with abnormal movements, unconsciousness, or both. Epileptic seizures are caused by sudden abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. Psychogenic (non-epileptic) seizures are attacks that look like epileptic seizures, but are not caused by abnormal electrical dis- charges. They are stress-related or “emotional.” They are some- times called pseudoseizures, but “psychogenic non-epileptic seizures” (PNES) is now the preferred term.
PNES are the most common condition misdiagnosed as epi- lepsy. PNES are not rare, with a frequency comparable to multiple sclerosis. In general, 1 in 5 of patients sent to epilepsy centers for difficult seizures is found to have PNES instead of epileptic sei- zures.
Your physician may suspect PNES when the seizures have unusual features (e.g., type of movements, duration, triggers, frequency, etc.). PNES may look like generalized convulsions (similar to “grand-mal” seizures) with falling and shaking. Less often, they may mimic “petit mal” or “complex partial” seizures with temporary loss of attention, or “staring.”
The routine, 20-minute electroencephalogram (EEG) is often helpful in diagnosing epilepsy because it can detect the abnormal electrical discharges in the brain that indicate epilepsy. However, the EEG is very often normal in patients with proven epilepsy, so it cannot be used alone to exclude epilepsy.
The most reliable test to make the diagnosis is EEG-video monitoring, which is the only way to be sure. This procedure monitors a patient for several hours to several days with a video camera and an EEG until a seizure occurs. By analyzing the video and EEG recordings, the diagnosis can be made with a nearly 100% certainty. However, this can only be done if the episodes in question occur frequently enough (once a week or more). Some- times techniques can also be used to trigger seizures during moni- toring.
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WHY DID MY OTHER DOCTOR SAY THAT I HAD EPILEPSY?
Most patients (about 80%) with PNES have been treated with antiepileptic drugs for several years before the correct diagnosis is made. This does not mean that doctors who have treated you for epilepsy have been incompetent. Here is why.
Remember that the diagnosis of seizures relies on the descrip- tions by observers, who may not notice important details. Few physi- cians have access to EEG-video monitoring, which has to be per- formed by a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy (epileptologist). Because epileptic seizures are potentially more harmful than PNES, physicians, when in doubt, will treat for the more serious condition. If seizures continue despite medications, then either the treatment needs to be changed or the diagnosis is not epilepsy. At that point, patients are sent to an epilepsy center, where the diagnosis is usually made.
As mentioned above, most patients with PNES have received a diagnosis of epilepsy before being correctly diagnosed. Similarly, many have had EEGs reported as “abnormal.” This is because neu- rologists who do not specialize in EEG or epilepsy frequently “over- read” as abnormal what specialists would consider normal. This is one reason why the diagnosis of PNES should only be made by epileptologists.
If you have had abnormal EEGs in the past, it is important that you obtain the actual tracings so the specialist (epileptologist) can review them. A small proportion (only about 10%) of patients with PNES also have epilepsy. If you have both types, it is very important that you and your family learn to distinguish the two types.
PNES, unlike epileptic seizures, are not the result of a physical brain disease. Rather, they are emotional, stress-induced, and result from traumatic psychological experiences, sometimes from the for- gotten past. It is well known that emotional or psychological stresses can produce physical reactions in people with no physical illness. For example, everyone has blushed in embarrassment or been nervous and anxious as part of a “stage fright” reaction. Today, we also know that more extreme emotional stresses can actually cause physical illnesses.
Some physical illnesses can be greatly influenced by psychologi- cal or emotional factors. These illnesses are called psychosomatic or “mind-body” illnesses. Examples include angina (chest pain), asthma, and headaches. Other conditions are thought to be influ-
WHAT ABOUT MY ABNORMAL EEG?
WHAT CAUSES PSYCHOGENIC (NON-EPILEPTIC) SEIZURES?
Psychogenic (non-epileptic) seizures: A guide for patients & families
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Psychogenic (Non-epileptic) Seizures, continued…
enced by stress and are often associated with PNES, including fibromyalgia and other pain syndromes, and irritable bowel syn- drome.
Disorders where emotional stresses cause symptoms that look like physical illnesses are called somatoform (“taking form in the body”) disorders, and the most common type is conversion disorder. In fact the official psychiatric classification (DSM-IV) has a specific category called conversion disorder with seizures. This is the category PNES usually fall into.
It is important to remember that somatoform disorders, including conversion disorder, are real conditions that arise in response to real stresses; patients are not faking them. The fact that the vast majority of PNES are not consciously produced is often poorly understood by family members and even by health care professionals. A specific traumatic event, such as physical or sexual abuse, incest, divorce, death of a loved one, or other great loss or sudden change, can be identified in many patients. Often the underlying trauma has been blocked from consciousness, and patients can recall the event only with help from a trained therapist. The unconscious processes that cause PNES may also cause or contribute to other conditions, such as depression and anxiety, which may also be present.
Thus, as mentioned above, PNES (and other conversion disorders) are a psychiatric condition. Some patients are reluctant to believe the diagnosis. Keep in mind that PNES represent a well-recognized condi- tion that can be diagnosed with nearly 100% certainty. This is different from other psychogenic symptoms, are simply a “diagnosis of elimi- nation.” With EEG video monitoring performed by an epileptologist, PNES can be shown with near 100% reliability to be of psychological origin.
Some people believe that treatment by a psychiatrist is a sign of being “crazy” or otherwise mentally incompetent. Such is not the case with PNES. Many patients become upset when told that their seizures are psychological. Remember that PNES are not purposely produced — it is not your “fault” that you have them.
It makes sense to seek treatment from a person most able to help you. The psychological factors can best be identified with the help of those with special training in psychological issues: psychiatrists, psychologists, or clinical social workers. As with all other medical conditions, sometimes the exact cause remains unknown; even then we can concentrate on the most important goal: reducing or eliminat- ing the seizures.
DO I REALLY NEED PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT?
Psychogenic (non-epileptic) seizures: A guide for patients & families
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Psychiatric Treatment, continued…
WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK?
Your neurologist may continue to see you, but treatment will be provided primarily by a mental health professional. Treatment may involve psychotherapy, stress-reduction techniques (such as relax- ation and biofeedback training), and personal support to help you cope with the seizures during the course of treatment.
Overall, the outlook is good.
With proper treatment, the seizures eventually disappear in 60- 70% of adults; the percentages are even higher for children and ado- lescents. Keep in mind that psychiatric treatments are not a quick fix and take time. A common mistake is to refuse the diagnosis and not follow up with the proper treatment. Unfortunately, patients who make this choice will continue antiepileptic drugs, which have al- ready failed and are not likely to work.
An important factor is early diagnosis. The shorter patients have carried the wrong diagnosis of epilepsy, the better the chances of full recovery. With the supervision of the neurologist, antiepileptic drugs should be gradually (not abruptly) stopped.
Many people with PNES have stopped driving, since they have carried a diagnosis of epilepsy. There is no law that regulates driving in patients with PNES, and neurologists vary in what they recom- mend. The decision as to whether you should be driving has to be made individually with both your psychiatrist and your neurologist.
If you have received benefits or been unable to work because of your seizures, this should not change based on this new diagnosis. Your seizures are real, and they may be disabling whether they are epileptic or psychological in origin. However, if your disability is now related to PNES (and not epilepsy), decisions are best made by your psychiatrist rather than your neurologist.
CAN I DRIVE?
WHAT ABOUT MY DISABILITY?
Psychogenic (non-epileptic) seizures: A guide for patients & families
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WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN?
PNES can also occur in adolescents and young children. More common psychogenic (stress-induced) symptoms in these age groups include headaches and stomach aches. Most of the points made in this guide apply to children as well as to adults. Young patients generally differ from adult patients only in that the stresses are typically less severe and are often related to the stresses experienced by younger patients, such as school or dating.
Children and adolescents also have a higher rate of recovery.
We realize this booklet may not have answered all your questions. It is not intended to replace discussions with your physician, but rather to help you understand that you have a known and treatable condition. You are not alone in having this. Treatment is available and is effective for most of the patients who seek it.
A FINAL THOUGHT
Psychogenic (non-epileptic) seizures: A guide for patients & families
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
PNES are constantly the subject of new research. Each year at the Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society, many presentations are devoted to this topic. Each year, many articles on PNES are published in the medical literature. The following gives some idea of the attention being directed to this well-recognized disorder.
In 2001, there were over 60 articles on PNES published in the medical literature. In 2001, there were 21 presentations on PNES at the Annual Meeting of the American Epilepsy Society.
BOOKS
Riley TL, Roy A. Pseudoseizures. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1982.
Fischer RS. Imitators of Epilepsy. New York: Demos Medical Publishers, 1994.
Gates J, Rowan AJ (eds). Non-epileptic seizures. 2nd edition. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2000.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders : DSM-IV. 4th ed. Wash- ington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 1994.
RECENT SELECTED ARTICLES
Andriola MR, Ettinger AB. Pseudoseizures and other nonepileptic paroxysmal disorders in children and adoles- cents. Neurology 1999;53(5 Suppl 2):S89-95.
Benbadis SR, Agrawal V, Tatum WO. How many patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures also have epilepsy? Neurology 2001;57:915-7.
Benbadis SR, Blustein JN, Sunstad L. Should patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures be allowed to drive? Epilepsia 2000;41:895-7.
Benbadis SR, Hauser WA. An estimate of the prevalence of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Seizure 2000;9:280- 281.
Benbadis SR, Johnson K, Anthony K, et al. Induction of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures without placebo. Neurology 2000;55:1904-5.
Benbadis SR, Tatum WO IV, Vale FL. When drugs don’t work: an algorithmic approach to medically intractable epilepsy. Neurology 2000;55:1780-1784.
Benbadis SR. How many patients with pseudoseizures receive antiepileptic drugs prior to diagnosis? European Neurology 1999;41:114-5.
Benbadis SR. What can EEG-video monitoring do for you and your patients? Journal of the Florida Medical Association 1997;84:320-322.
Bowman ES. Nonepileptic Seizures. Current Treatment Options in Neurology 2000;2:559-570.
Bowman ES. Nonepileptic seizures: psychiatric framework, treatment, and outcome. Neurology 1999;53(5 Suppl 2):S84-8.
DeToledo JC, Lowe MR, Puig A. Nonepileptic seizures in pregnancy. Neurology 2000;55:120-1.
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ARTICLES, continued…
Ettinger AB, Devinsky O, Weisbrot DM, et al.A comprehensive profile of clinical, psychiatric, and psychosocial characteristics of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Epilepsia 1999;40:1292-8.
Ettinger AB, Dhoon A, Weisbrot DM, et al. Predictive factors for outcome of nonepileptic seizures after diagnosis. Journal of Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 1999;11:458-63.
Frances PL, Baker GA, Appleton PL. Stress and avoidance in Pseudoseizures: testing the assumptions. Epilepsy Research 1999;34(2-3):241-9.
Gates J. Nonepileptic seizures: time for progress. Epilepsy & Behavior 2000;1:2-6.
Gatzonis SD, Siafakas A, Chioni A, et al. Nonepileptic seizures. Epilepsia 1999;40:387.
Groppel G, Kapitany T, Baumgartner C. Cluster analysis of clinical seizure semiology of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Epilepsia 2000;41:610-4.
Gudmundsson O, Prendergast M, Foreman D, et al. Outcome of pseudoseizures in children and adolescents: a 6- year symptom survival analysis. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 2001;43:547-51.
Kalogjera-Sackellares D, Sackellares JC. Intellectual and neuropsychological features of patients with psychogenic pseudoseizures. Psychiatry Research 1999;86:73-84.
Krawetz P, Fleisher W, Pillay N, et al. Family functioning in subjects with pseudoseizures and epilepsy. Journal of Nerve and Mental Diseases 2001;189:38-43.
Krumholz A. Nonepileptic seizures: diagnosis and management. Neurology 1999;53(5 Suppl 2):S76-83. Lesser RP. Psychogenic seizures. Neurology 1996;46:1499-2507.
Reeves AL, McAuley JW, Moore JL, et al. Medication use, self-reported drug allergies, and estimated medication cost in patients with epileptic versus nonepileptic seizures. Journal of Epilepsy 1998;11:191-194.
Selwa LM, Geyer J, Nikakhtar N, et al. Nonepileptic seizure outcome varies by type of spell and duration of illness. Epilepsia 2000;41:1330-
Shen W, Bowman ES, Markand ON: Presenting the diagnosis of psychogenic seizure. Neurology 1990; 40; 5: 756- 759.
Silva W, Giagante B, Saizar R, et al. Clinical features and prognosis of nonepileptic seizures in a developing country. Epilepsia 2001;42:398-401.
Sirven JI, Glosser DS. Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: theoretic and clinical considerations. Neuropsychiatry Neuropsychology and Behavioral Neurology 1998;11:225-35.
Szaflarski JP, Ficker DM, Cahill WT, et al. Four-year incidence of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures in adults in Hamilton county, OH. Neurology 2000 28;55:1561-3.
Tojek TM, Lumley M, Barkley G, Mahr G, et al. Stress and other psychosocial characteristics of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Psychosomatics 2000;41:221-6.
Wyllie E, Glazer JP, Benbadis S, et al. Psychiatric features of children and adolescents with pseudoseizures. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine 1999;153:244-8.
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