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The causes of psychogenic nonepileptic attacks (PNEA) are unknown. To examine associations among risk factors for PNEA, researchers analyzed clinical and demographic features of 288 patients who experienced PNEA.
Three quarters of patients with PNEA reported having a traumatic antecedent, including sexual abuse (33%), bereavement (19%), a health problem (8%), and accident or assault (8%). In addition, 11% had comorbid epilepsy, and 9% had learning disabilities. Later age at PNEA onset was associated with having any traumatic antecedent, specifically health-related trauma. Younger age at onset was associated with comorbid epilepsy and with bullying. Medically unexplained symptoms other than PNEA were reported more often by patients with antec…