Epileptic vs. Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures: What Are the Distinguishing Signs?

Six signs were found to consistently distinguish epileptic from nonepileptic seizures, but eyewitnesses did not identify those signs accurately.

Among the most underappreciated costs and patient burdens in seizure disorders are those of misdiagnosis of epileptic seizures (ES) and delayed diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). To see whether clinical history could facilitate diagnosis, researchers sought to determine which seizure signs distinguish between ES and PNES and whether eyewitnesses accurately identify those signs.

Thirty-five adults were consecutively enrolled at an epilepsy monitoring unit. These patients, who experienced 120 video-documented seizures (36 PNES, 84 ES) seen by eyewitnesses, were referred for inpatient evaluation with video electroencephalography (VEEG). Epileptologists, blinded to diagnosis information and EEG tracings, assessed the video re…

Reviewing Author

Robert C. Knowlton, MD, MSPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMore Health, Inc.; The Alliance of Medical Companies

Grant/Research SupportNIH Small Business Innovation Research

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSouthern Epilepsy & EEG Society (Treasurer)

Robert C. Knowlton, MD, MSPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMore Health, Inc.; The Alliance of Medical Companies

Grant/Research SupportNIH Small Business Innovation Research

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSouthern Epilepsy & EEG Society (Treasurer)