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Epilepsy Behav 2019 Feb 16;93:16-21. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF, United Kingdom; Academic Neurology Unit, University of Sheffield, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF, United Kingdom.

Background: Seizure disorders affect not only the individual living with seizures, but also those caring for them. Carer-patient relationships may be influenced by, and have an influence on, some aspects of living with seizure disorders - with potentially different interactions seen in epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES).

Objectives: We studied the influence of patient and carer attachment style and relationship quality on carer wellbeing and psychological distress, and explored whether these associations differ between carers for people with epilepsy and for those with PNES. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Feb 16;93:12-15. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), Brazil. Electronic address:

Objective: The objective of this study was to verify if the presence of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) could be a risk factor precluding corticoamygdalohippocampectomy (CAH) in patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) (TLE-MTS).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed medical data of patients with refractory TLE-MTS accompanied in a Brazilian epilepsy surgery center. Presurgical psychiatric evaluations were performed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria. Read More

Int J Neural Syst 2019 Jan 8:1850060. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

§ Department of Computer and Communication, National Pingtung University, 51 Min Sheng East Road, Pingtung, 90003, Taiwan.

Numerous nonepileptic paroxysmal events, such as syncope and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, may imitate seizures and impede diagnosis. Misdiagnosis can lead to mistreatment, affecting patients' lives considerably. Electroencephalography is commonly used for diagnosing epilepsy. Read More

Seizure 2019 Feb 11;66:22-25. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address:

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term outcome of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), who never visited a psychologist and never received a proper therapy for their condition (due to lack of resources). We also aimed to investigate factors potentially associated with the outcome in these patients.

Methods: We studied all patients with PNES, who were admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit at the Shiraz Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, from 2008 until 2013. Read More

Brain Stimul 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

CHU Lille, Hôpital Fontan, Department of Psychiatry, F-59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, CNRS UMR-9193, SCALab - Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, France; Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.

Introduction: Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are paroxysms of either altered subjective or objective manifestations that may mimic epileptic seizures (ES), without abnormal neuronal epileptiform activity. In this report, we present the case of a 39-year-old woman with PNES and functional movement disorders, who was successfully treated with neuro-guided transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

Methods: We used a PET-guided tDCS approach, as a hypometabolism of the frontal region was revealed by FDG TEP scan. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Feb 12;92:341-344. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Department of Health Services Research, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Centre for Economic Evaluation, Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Objectives: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) have the appearance of epileptic seizures, yet show no epileptiform discharges in the brain. The quality of life (QOL) in patients with PNES is reportedly low and trauma eems to be a relevant risk factor. The objective of this study was to examine the difference between measures of (epilepsy-specific) QOL (Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory; QOLIE-31p) and psychological dysfunction (trauma symptom inventory; TSI) between patients with diagnosed PNES with self-reported trauma and those without self-reported trauma. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Feb 11. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Department of Psychiatry, Cleveland Clinic, United States of America.

Pinterest is a visual search based, the fourth largest social networking site in the U.S. with 81% of its users being women. Read More

FP Essent 2019 Feb;477:22-28

University of South Alabama College of Medicine Department of Family Medicine, 1601 Center Street, 2N Mobile, AL 36604.

Family physicians may be the first point of contact for adults with new-onset seizure. There are many etiologies of seizures in adults. Etiologies of provoked seizures include temporary metabolic disturbances, central nervous system infections, cerebrovascular disease, drug withdrawal, and traumatic brain injury. Read More

J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol 2018 Jul 11;25(2):e1-e11. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

Dept of Neurology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad 500 082 India.

Objectives To study the clinical profile and outcome in patients with epilepsy who developed psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) associated with levetiracetam (LEV) use.   Methods In this prospective observational study, conducted over 1 year, 13 patients with epilepsy and PNES, documented by video electroencephalogram (VEEG) while on LEV, were included. Those with past history of psychiatric illnesses were excluded. Read More

Behav Sci (Basel) 2019 Jan 29;9(2). Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Psychiatry, Griffin Memorial Hospital, Norman, OK 73071, USA.

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are classified as a somatoform conversion disorder. We present a case of a 24-year-old male with a past psychiatric history of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorder, admitted to our inpatient psychiatric unit. The patient experienced multiple episodes of seizures during hospitalization. Read More

Seizure 2019 Feb 24;65:144-147. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address:

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of dramatic presentations of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) (i.e., urine incontinence and ictal injury) and to characterize the patients' historical risk factors that may be associated with such dramatic manifestations. Read More

Seizure 2019 Feb 17;65:124-128. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Purpose: Patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) frequently complain of poor sleep, yet there are few and inconsistent data supporting objective sleep disturbances in this population. In this prospective observational study, we aimed to compare objective and subjective sleep-wake patterns in patients with PNES with those with epilepsy.

Methods: Subjects were recruited through the Brigham and Women's Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) over a 6-month period, and were diagnosed as having PNES or epilepsy by experts using video-electroencephalography (v-EEG). Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Jan 23;92:206-212. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

The University of Melbourne, Department of Psychiatry, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia; King's College London, Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Weston Education Centre, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RJ, UK. Electronic address:

Objectives: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) resemble seizures but are psychological in origin. The etiology of PNES remains poorly understood, yet several theories argue for the importance of autonomic dysregulation in its pathophysiology. We therefore conducted a retrospective study to investigate autonomic dynamics leading up to a seizure to inform their mechanistic relevance. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Jan 14;92:108-113. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group, United States of America.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare patients with intractable epilepsy with patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) on the presence of psychological traumas, clinical factors, and psychological measures of somatization and dissociation.

Background: Several studies have reported a high prevalence of psychological trauma in patients with PNES, while less have examined the prevalence of psychological trauma in patients with epilepsy and compared both groups. Reports have been somewhat divergent with some describing significantly higher prevalence in physical abuse, others, in emotional abuse/neglect, and others, in sexual abuse in patients with PNES compared with those in patients with epilepsy. Read More

Neurology 2019 Feb 4;92(7):e675-e679. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

From the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology (B.T., H.B., L.J.H.), and Department of Psychiatry (S.M.), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Epilepsy Center of Excellence, Neurology Service (B.T.), and Psychology Service (S.M.), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Newington; and Departments of Neurology (B.T., B.A.D.) and Psychiatry (G.B.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Objective: We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) to examine the association between adherence with psychotherapy and outcomes, including significant (≥50%) reduction in PNES frequency, PNES freedom, improvement in quality of life, and reduction in emergency department (ED) utilization.

Methods: A total of 105 participants were referred to receive psychotherapy either at Brigham and Women's Hospital or with a local therapist. We called participants at 12-24 months follow-up and obtained detailed follow-up data from 93 participants (89%). Read More

Neurology 2019 Feb 4;92(7):311-312. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

From the University of South Florida, Tampa.

Epilepsy Behav 2018 Dec 29;92:18-25. Epub 2018 Dec 29.

Vancouver General Hospital Epilepsy Program, Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre, 8257 - 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1M9, Canada; University of British Columbia Neuropsychiatry Program, Detwiller Pavilion, UBC Hospital, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 2A1, Canada. Electronic address:

Seizures are commonly thought to occur in a spontaneous, unpredictable manner. However, it is well-established that a subset of patients with epilepsy can experience reflex seizures that are consistently elicited by a specific stimulus. While various forms of reflex epilepsy have been documented in the literature, acute affective states have not been commonly described as a potential reflex seizure trigger. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Jan 20;90:172-177. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. Electronic address:

Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify the features of stereotypy in epileptic seizures and compare it with that of stereotypy in psychogenic nonepileptic seizure-like events (PNES) confirmed by video-electroencephalography (VEEG) monitoring.

Methods: Video-electroencephalography monitoring records of 20 patients with temporal lobe seizures (TLS) and 20 with PNES were retrospectively reviewed (n = 138 seizures, 48 TLS and 90 PNES). We analyzed the semiology of 59 behaviors of interest for their presence, duration, sequence, and continuity using quantified measures that were entered into statistical analysis. Read More

Seizure 2019 Jan 14;64:74-76. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Electronic address:

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate any possible association between education and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) and any potential effects education might have on clinical characteristics of patients with PNES.

Methods: In this retrospective study, all patients with PNES, who were studied at Shiraz Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, from 2008 until 2018, were recruited. We categorized the patients as 1. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Jan 19;90:191-196. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Department of Neuroscience, Laboratory of Neurological Disorders, Milano, Italy.

Questionnaires or symptom lists have proved effective for differentiating epileptic seizures (ES) from psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). However, monitoring the events, corroborated by medical history gathered by experts, remains the gold standard. We directly compared symptoms and characteristic of the events self-reported by patients/eyewitnesses (Questionnaire A/B) with the information contained in the clinical charts of 50 patients with undefined diagnosis undergoing long-term monitoring. Read More

Epilepsia 2019 Feb 21;60(2):349-357. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Department of Neurology, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

Objective: To investigate the health care utilization cost of patients presenting with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) to a tertiary hospital in Australia.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of adult patients with PNES based on video-electroencephalographic confirmation over a 5-year period. We used an itemized list to collect detailed health care utilization data. Read More

Neurology 2019 Jan 14;92(3):e194-e204. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

From the Departments of Medicine (S.S., Z.C., A.P., C.J.R., N.C.J., C.F., P.P., P.K., T.J.O.), Neurology (S.S., E.J.W., A.P., C.H., J.C., C.J.R., R.Y., C.F., P.P., P.K., T.J.O.), and Respiratory and Sleep Disorders Medicine (T.M., J.G.), The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville; Department of Neuroscience (S.S., Z.C., A.P., N.C.J., C.F., P.P., P.K., T.J.O.), Central Clinical School, Monash University; Department of Neurology (S.S., A.P., P.P., P.K., T.J.O.), The Alfred Hospital; and Neuropsychiatry Unit (S.F., D.V.), The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Australia.

Objective: To examine the prevalence and risk factors of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in individuals with epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES).

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of consecutive patients admitted for inpatient video-EEG monitoring at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia, between December 1, 2011, and July 31, 2017. Participants underwent routine clinical investigations during their monitoring period including polysomnography, neurocognitive testing, and screening instruments of daytime somnolence, sleep quality, and quality of life. Read More

Epilepsia 2019 Jan 9;60(1):165-174. Epub 2018 Dec 9.

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of motor manifestation during convulsive epileptic and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), captured using a wrist-worn accelerometer (ACM) device. The main goal was to find quantitative ACM features that can differentiate between convulsive epileptic and convulsive PNES.

Methods: In this study, motor data were recorded using wrist-worn ACM-based devices. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Jan 22;90:119-121. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of antiepileptic drug (AED) use in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) and to characterize the patients' historical risk factors that may be associated with such a practice.

Methods: In this retrospective database study, all patients with PNES, who were investigated at Shiraz Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, from 2008 to 2018, were studied. Patients with concomitant epilepsy or abnormal Electroencephalogram (EEG) were not included. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2019 Jan 2;90:90-92. Epub 2018 Dec 2.

Children's Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Canada; Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address:

Purpose: We compared various clinical characteristics of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) between young patients from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Canada, three nations with significantly different socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. This international cross-cultural comparative study may advance our knowledge and understanding of PNES in children and adolescents across the cultures and borders.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we investigated all patients 16 years of age or younger, with PNES admitted to the epilepsy monitoring units at one center in Iran, one center in Saudi Arabia, and one center in Canada. Read More

Seizure 2019 Jan 28;64:20-22. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Peter Kellaway Section of Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA; Neurology Care Line, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA. Electronic address:

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2018 Jul;2018:3402-3405

A high number of patients with epileptic seizures (ES) are misdiagnosed due to prevalence of mimic conditions. The clinical characteristics of mimics are often similar to ES. The events mostly misdiagnosed are of psychogenic origin and are termed as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2018 Dec 8;89:130-134. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

Department of Neurology, Karadeniz Technical University Medical Faculty, 61080 Trabzon, Turkey.

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are more prevalent among women, and diagnosis may sometimes be delayed by as much as seven years. Understanding the effect of gender on the presentation of a PNES may assist with diagnosis based on semiological details in the clinical setting. Although video-EEG monitoring (VEM) is the gold standard for diagnosing PNES, determining gender-related seizure semiology through careful history may prevent diagnostic delay while waiting for VEM. Read More

Med Klin Intensivmed Notfmed 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Interdisziplinäre Notaufnahme, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Deutschland.

Transient loss of consciousness (TLoC) is a common complaint leading to presentation at the emergency department. This comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders including cerebral events, metabolic disturbances, intoxication, psychogenic patterns or any form of syncope. While many causes are benign and self-limited not requiring extensive in-hospital evaluation, others are potentially severe. Read More

EBioMedicine 2018 Dec 2;38:127-141. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Department of Physiology & Medical Physics, RCSI, Dublin, Ireland; FutureNeuro Research Centre, RCSI, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address:

Background: There are no blood-based molecular biomarkers of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) to support clinical diagnosis. MicroRNAs are short noncoding RNAs with strong biomarker potential due to their cell-specific expression, mechanistic links to brain excitability, and stable detection in biofluids. Altered levels of circulating microRNAs have been reported in human epilepsy, but most studies collected samples from one clinical site, used a single profiling platform or conducted minimal validation. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2018 Dec 29;89:70-78. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Comorbid epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) represent a serious challenge for the clinicians. However, the frequency, associations, and outcomes of dual diagnosis of epilepsy and PNES are unclear. The aim of the review was to determine the frequency, correlates, and outcomes of a dual diagnosis. Read More

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2019 31;31(1):65-69. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

From the Department of Neurology, Functional Neurology Research Group, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston (BW, JPO, RJ, DLP); the Department of Psychiatry, Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston (GLF); and the Department of Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston (DLP).

Insecure attachment is a predisposing risk factor for the development of functional neurological disorder (FND). There is limited research investigating connections between attachment styles, other predisposing vulnerabilities, and symptom severity in patients with motor FND. By using a within-group design with prospective data collection, the authors performed univariate tests followed by multivariate linear regressions to investigate neuropsychiatric factors associated with four attachment styles (secure, fearful, preoccupied, and dismissing) among 56 patients with motor FND (mean age=40. Read More

Epilepsy Res 2018 12 16;148:44-47. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Epilepsy Center Bethel, Krankenhaus Mara, Bielefeld, Germany.

Additional cardiologic examination for syncope is used for patients admitted for diagnostic reasons in the Epilepsy Center Bethel if, after epileptologic examination, the etiology of seizures remains uncertain and a cardiologic etiology is suspected. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed all patient data from the diagnostic department between 02/2011 and 07/2015 to evaluate the benefits to patients of additional cardiologic examination for syncope. 78 out of 1567 patients underwent additional cardiologic examination for syncope. Read More

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2018 8;14:2593-2598. Epub 2018 Oct 8.

Department of Psychiatry, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA,

This case discusses the course of a woman with a history of epilepsy, alcohol use disorder, herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis, and Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) who presented with altered mental status following approximately 48 hours of vomiting. After experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure in the emergency department, she developed a fluent aphasia. Aphasias are ordinarily attributed to structural changes in the brain parenchyma, often from stroke, neoplasm, or infection. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2018 Nov 17;88:332-340. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Trent Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, University of Lincoln, Brayford Wharf East, Lincoln LN5 7AY, UK.

This study utilized a nonconcurrent case-series design to examine the effectiveness and acceptability of a guided self-help Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention for people with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. A key aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between psychological flexibility (a key process within ACT), psychological health, quality of life, and seizure frequency. Six participants completed the study, with reliable and clinically significant changes in psychological flexibility, quality of life, and psychological health observed in the majority of participants. Read More

Psychosomatics 2018 Aug 29. Epub 2018 Aug 29.

Department of Neurology, Functional Neurology Research Group, Cognitive Behavioral Neurology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Electronic address:

Background: The relationships between baseline neuropsychiatric factors and clinical outcome in patients with functional neurological disorder (FND)/conversion disorder remain poorly understood.

Objective: This prospective, naturalistic pilot study investigated links between predisposing vulnerabilities (risk factors) and clinical outcome in patients with motor FND engaged in usual care within a subspecialty FND clinic.

Methods: Thirty-four patients with motor FND were enrolled and completed baseline and 6-month follow-up psychometric questionnaires. Read More

Eur J Neurol 2019 Feb 7;26(2):203-204. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.

Seizure 2018 Nov 3;62:95-98. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. Electronic address:

Purpose: To assess the contribution home-videos made on mobile phones can make to the diagnosis of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES).

Methods: Consecutive patients 10-50 years old, with episodes of altered behavior or abnormal movements, unresponsiveness, or falls, were recruited after they had obtained 'good' or 'fair' quality (quality of video scale (QOV)) home-videos of their episodes on personal mobile phones; these subjects underwent video-electroencephalography (VEEG). Diagnoses of PNES, other physiological events or epileptic seizure (ES) on home-videos (by the epilepsy fellow, step 1) and on VEEGs (by a fully trained epileptologist unaware of the home-video recording, step 2) were compared. Read More

J Affect Disord 2019 02 5;244:46-53. Epub 2018 Oct 5.

Service de Neurophysiologie Clinique, Centre Hospitalo Universitaire de la Timone, 264, rue Saint-Pierre, Marseille 13005, France; Aix Marseille University, Inserm, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Marseille, France.

Background: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are conditions frequently associated with dysfunction in emotional regulation leading to increased risk of affective disorders. This study investigates emotional processing with an objective measure of emotional reactivity in patients with TLE and patients with PNES.

Methods: 34 patients with TLE and 14 patients with PNES were evaluated on skin conductance responses (SCR) to emotions induced by short films and compared to 34 healthy controls. Read More

Eur J Neurol 2019 Feb 29;26(2):205-e15. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Greacia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.

The International League against Epilepsy (ILAE) proposed a diagnostic scheme for psychogenic non-epileptic seizure (PNES). The debate on ethical aspects of the diagnostic procedures is ongoing, the treatment is not standardized and management might differ according to age group. The objective was to reach an expert and stakeholder consensus on PNES management. Read More

Seizure 2018 Nov 28;62:59-65. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Academic Neurology Unit, University of Sheffield, UK. Electronic address:

Purpose: This study is based on a narrative analysis of individuals' written accounts of living with epilepsy (n = 29) or psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (n = 20, PNES). Narrative analysis looks at both the content and structure of the personal account. We used a form of narrative analysis that allowed us to identify common story lines, otherwise known as narrative typologies, potentially characteristic of these patient groups. Read More

Epilepsia 2018 Nov 1;59(11):e161-e165. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

Neurology Care Line, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, Texas.

We aim to demonstrate, in a sufficiently powered and standardized study, that the success rate of inducing psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) without placebo (saline infusion) is noninferior to induction with placebo. The clinical data of 170 consecutive patients with suspected PNES who underwent induction with placebo from January 21, 2009 to March 31, 2013 were pair-matched with 170 consecutive patients with suspected PNES who underwent the same induction technique but without addition of placebo from April 1, 2013 to February 7, 2018 at the same center. The success rates of induction were 79. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2018 Oct 28;87:167-172. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Italy Institutes of Neurology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. Electronic address:

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are episodes of paroxysmal impairment associated with a range of motor, sensory, and mental manifestations, which perfectly mimic epileptic seizures. Several patterns of neural abnormalities have been described without identifying a definite neurobiological substrate. In this multicenter cross-sectional study, we applied a multivariate classification algorithm on morphological brain imaging metrics to extract reliable biomarkers useful to distinguish patients from controls at an individual level. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2018 Nov 27;88:123-129. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

College of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 766 Irving Ave., Syracuse, NY 13210, United States of America.

Background: The available information on postictal semiology and behavior in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES) is limited. In this study, we explore the differences in postictal semiology and behavior between patients with epileptic seizure (ES) and PNES and focus on clinical features that may be helpful in differentiating these two conditions.

Methods: In this retrospective study, video-electroencephalograph (video-EEG) of 144 seizures from 64 patients with PNES and 66 seizures from 42 patients with ES were reviewed. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2018 Nov 25;88:117-122. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Division of Psychology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, 13400 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA. Electronic address:

Psychological assessment measures are frequently used to evaluate patients in epilepsy monitoring units. One goal of that assessment is to contribute information that may help with differential diagnosis between epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) is one such measure. Read More

Epilepsy Curr 2018 Jul-Aug;18(4):231-232

Epilepsy Curr 2018 Jul-Aug;18(4):211-216

2Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, Alpert Medical School, Brown University Director of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital.

Brain Res 2019 Feb 22;1704:11-15. Epub 2018 Sep 22.

Skull Base Research Center, Loghman-Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Brain Mapping Research Center, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address:

Objective: To assess the value of postictal serum Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase (UCHL-1), a neuronal biomarker, and S100-B, a glial biomarker, levels, in differentiate epileptic seizures (ES) form psychogenic attacks.

Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, serum UCHL-1 and S100-B levels were measured within six hours of occurring seizure, in 43 patients with ES, 20 patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) and 19 healthy individuals by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.

Results: Both serum UCHL-1 and S100-B levels were significantly higher in patients with ES than PNES (P < 0. Read More

Epilepsy Behav 2018 Nov 18;88:41-48. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Epilepsy Center Bethel, Krankenhaus Mara, Bielefeld, Germany.

Several studies found high prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders in patients with pure psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Traumatic experiences were also reported to be elevated in patients with PNES and were discussed as a crucial risk factor for the development of PNES. Much less is known about psychiatric comorbidities and specifically, about trauma history in patients with PNES and coexisting epilepsy. Read More

Neurol Sci 2018 Dec 19;39(12):2135-2139. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Department of Biochemistry, Erzurum Public Health Laboratory, Erzurum, Turkey.

Purpose: Epileptic seizure is the result of uncontrollable neural excitation in the brain. The C-type natriuretic peptide is a member of natriuretic peptide hormone family and is synthesized by brain and blood vessels in CNS. NT-pro CNP is an amino-terminal fragment of C-type natriuretic peptide and is more stable compared to its predecessor. Read More