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Pseudoseizure

MedGen UID:
578668
•Concept ID:
C0349245
•
Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
Synonyms: Dissociative Seizure; Dissociative Seizures; Nonepileptic Seizure, Psychogenic; Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizure; Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures; Psychogenic Pseudoseizure; Psychogenic Pseudoseizures; Seizure, Dissociative; Seizure, Psychogenic Nonepileptic
SNOMED CT: Dissociative convulsions (191714002); Dissociative seizures (191714002)
 
HPO: HP:0033053

Definition

Sudden, involuntary seizure-like attacks that, unlike epileptic seizures, are not related to electrographic ictal discharges. [from HPO]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVPseudoseizure

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Scoping review and expert-based consensus recommendations for assessment and management of psychogenic non-epileptic (functional) seizures (PNES) in children: A report from the Pediatric Psychiatric Issues Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy.
Reilly C, Jette N, Johnson EC, Kariuki SM, Meredith F, Wirrell E, Mula M, Smith ML, Walsh S, Fong CY, Wilmshurst JM, Kerr M, Valente K, Auvin S
Epilepsia 2023 Dec;64(12):3160-3195. Epub 2023 Oct 7 doi: 10.1111/epi.17768. PMID: 37804168
Management of seizures in children.
El-Radhi AS
Br J Nurs 2015 Feb 12-25;24(3):152-5. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2015.24.3.152. PMID: 25679244
The differential diagnosis of epilepsy, pseudoseizures, dissociative identity disorder, and dissociative disorder not otherwise specified.
Bowman ES, Coons PM
Bull Menninger Clin 2000 Spring;64(2):164-80. PMID: 10842446

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures in Children and Adolescents.
Patel H, Blake H, Dunn D
Indian Pediatr 2021 Mar 15;58(3):259-265. PMID: 33713062
The neuropsychological and neurophysiological profile of women with pseudoseizure.
Almis BH, Cumurcu BE, Unal S, Ozcan AC, Aytas O
Compr Psychiatry 2013 Aug;54(6):649-57. Epub 2013 Feb 22 doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.12.027. PMID: 23462415
Evaluation of a first seizure.
Adams SM, Knowles PD
Am Fam Physician 2007 May 1;75(9):1342-7. PMID: 17508528
Pseudoseizures and asthma.
de Wet CJ, Mellers JD, Gardner WN, Toone BK
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2003 May;74(5):639-41. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.74.5.639. PMID: 12700308Free PMC Article
Psychodynamics and psychiatric diagnoses of pseudoseizure subjects.
Bowman ES, Markand ON
Am J Psychiatry 1996 Jan;153(1):57-63. doi: 10.1176/ajp.153.1.57. PMID: 8540592

Diagnosis

Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures in Children and Adolescents.
Patel H, Blake H, Dunn D
Indian Pediatr 2021 Mar 15;58(3):259-265. PMID: 33713062
The neuropsychological and neurophysiological profile of women with pseudoseizure.
Almis BH, Cumurcu BE, Unal S, Ozcan AC, Aytas O
Compr Psychiatry 2013 Aug;54(6):649-57. Epub 2013 Feb 22 doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.12.027. PMID: 23462415
Diagnosis of epilepsy over the course of the disease.
Saiz Díaz RA, Martínez Bermejo A, Gómez Alonso J
Neurologist 2007 Nov;13(6 Suppl 1):S11-9. doi: 10.1097/NRL.0b013e31815bb146. PMID: 18090946
Dissociation and childhood abuse history in epileptic and pseudoseizure patients.
Akyuz G, Kugu N, Akyuz A, Dogan O
Epileptic Disord 2004 Sep;6(3):187-92. PMID: 15544989
Pseudoseizures and asthma.
de Wet CJ, Mellers JD, Gardner WN, Toone BK
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2003 May;74(5):639-41. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.74.5.639. PMID: 12700308Free PMC Article

Therapy

Scoping review and expert-based consensus recommendations for assessment and management of psychogenic non-epileptic (functional) seizures (PNES) in children: A report from the Pediatric Psychiatric Issues Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy.
Reilly C, Jette N, Johnson EC, Kariuki SM, Meredith F, Wirrell E, Mula M, Smith ML, Walsh S, Fong CY, Wilmshurst JM, Kerr M, Valente K, Auvin S
Epilepsia 2023 Dec;64(12):3160-3195. Epub 2023 Oct 7 doi: 10.1111/epi.17768. PMID: 37804168
Risk stratification through allergy history: single-centre experience of specialized COVID-19 vaccine clinic.
Lyons D, Murray C, Hannigan S, Sui J, Alamin S, Conlon N, Keogan M, Khalib K, Fitzpatrick C, O'B Hourihane J, Carey M, Edgar JDM
Clin Exp Immunol 2022 Aug 19;209(2):182-187. doi: 10.1093/cei/uxac064. PMID: 35753019Free PMC Article
Neurologic Conditions: New-Onset Seizures in Adults.
McKinley JE, Perkins A
FP Essent 2019 Feb;477:22-28. PMID: 30747509
Management of seizures in children.
El-Radhi AS
Br J Nurs 2015 Feb 12-25;24(3):152-5. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2015.24.3.152. PMID: 25679244
Evaluation of a first seizure.
Adams SM, Knowles PD
Am Fam Physician 2007 May 1;75(9):1342-7. PMID: 17508528

Prognosis

Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder in Williams Syndrome: Case Series and Review of Relevant Literature.
Thom RP, Balaj K, Keary CJ, Pober BR, McDougle CJ
J Acad Consult Liaison Psychiatry 2022 Mar-Apr;63(2):170-179. Epub 2021 Oct 5 doi: 10.1016/j.jaclp.2021.09.007. PMID: 34619410
Nonepileptic seizures - subjective phenomena.
Reuber M, Rawlings GH
Handb Clin Neurol 2016;139:283-296. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-801772-2.00025-4. PMID: 27719848
Diagnosis of epilepsy over the course of the disease.
Saiz Díaz RA, Martínez Bermejo A, Gómez Alonso J
Neurologist 2007 Nov;13(6 Suppl 1):S11-9. doi: 10.1097/NRL.0b013e31815bb146. PMID: 18090946
Dissociation, hypnotizability, coping styles and health locus of control: characteristics of pseudoseizure patients.
Goldstein LH, Drew C, Mellers J, Mitchell-O'Malley S, Oakley DA
Seizure 2000 Jul;9(5):314-22. doi: 10.1053/seiz.2000.0421. PMID: 10933985
Psychodynamics and psychiatric diagnoses of pseudoseizure subjects.
Bowman ES, Markand ON
Am J Psychiatry 1996 Jan;153(1):57-63. doi: 10.1176/ajp.153.1.57. PMID: 8540592

Clinical prediction guides

The neuropsychological and neurophysiological profile of women with pseudoseizure.
Almis BH, Cumurcu BE, Unal S, Ozcan AC, Aytas O
Compr Psychiatry 2013 Aug;54(6):649-57. Epub 2013 Feb 22 doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.12.027. PMID: 23462415
Pseudoseizures and asthma.
de Wet CJ, Mellers JD, Gardner WN, Toone BK
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2003 May;74(5):639-41. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.74.5.639. PMID: 12700308Free PMC Article
Dissociation, hypnotizability, coping styles and health locus of control: characteristics of pseudoseizure patients.
Goldstein LH, Drew C, Mellers J, Mitchell-O'Malley S, Oakley DA
Seizure 2000 Jul;9(5):314-22. doi: 10.1053/seiz.2000.0421. PMID: 10933985
The differential diagnosis of epilepsy, pseudoseizures, dissociative identity disorder, and dissociative disorder not otherwise specified.
Bowman ES, Coons PM
Bull Menninger Clin 2000 Spring;64(2):164-80. PMID: 10842446
Psychodynamics and psychiatric diagnoses of pseudoseizure subjects.
Bowman ES, Markand ON
Am J Psychiatry 1996 Jan;153(1):57-63. doi: 10.1176/ajp.153.1.57. PMID: 8540592

Recent systematic reviews

Scoping review and expert-based consensus recommendations for assessment and management of psychogenic non-epileptic (functional) seizures (PNES) in children: A report from the Pediatric Psychiatric Issues Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy.
Reilly C, Jette N, Johnson EC, Kariuki SM, Meredith F, Wirrell E, Mula M, Smith ML, Walsh S, Fong CY, Wilmshurst JM, Kerr M, Valente K, Auvin S
Epilepsia 2023 Dec;64(12):3160-3195. Epub 2023 Oct 7 doi: 10.1111/epi.17768. PMID: 37804168
Semiological classification of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: A systematic review and a new proposal.
Asadi-Pooya AA
Epilepsy Behav 2019 Nov;100(Pt A):106412. Epub 2019 Oct 20 doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.07.013. PMID: 31645005

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