Ali A Asadi-Pooya1, Yasaman Emami2, Mehrdad Emami2, Michael R Sperling3. 1. Neurosciences Research Center, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA. Electronic address: aliasadipooya@yahoo.com. 2. Neurosciences Research Center, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. 3. Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if patients with episodes of prolonged psychogenic nonepileptic seizures or pseudostatus are different from those with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs) without prolonged attacks regarding their demographic and clinical characteristics and factors potentially predisposing to PNESs. METHODS: In this prospective study, all patients with a clinical diagnosis of PNESs (based on ictal recordings) were recruited at the outpatient epilepsy clinic at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from 2008 through 2013. The epileptologist interviewed all the patients. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with PNES-status with those with PNES-only. RESULTS: Two hundred and eleven patients were studied. Forty-nine patients (23.2%) reported episodes of PNES-status, and 162 patients (76.8%) did not report PNES-status. There were no significant differences between these two groups of patients regarding the demographic and clinical characteristics and factors potentially predisposing to PNESs. CONCLUSION: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizure status (PNES-status) is relatively common among patients with PNESs. It seems that patients with PNES-status are not different from those with PNES-only, at least regarding the demographic and clinical characteristics and factors potentially predisposing to PNESs.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if patients with episodes of prolonged psychogenic nonepileptic seizures or pseudostatus are different from those with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs) without prolonged attacks regarding their demographic and clinical characteristics and factors potentially predisposing to PNESs. METHODS: In this prospective study, all patients with a clinical diagnosis of PNESs (based on ictal recordings) were recruited at the outpatientepilepsy clinic at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from 2008 through 2013. The epileptologist interviewed all the patients. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with PNES-status with those with PNES-only. RESULTS: Two hundred and eleven patients were studied. Forty-nine patients (23.2%) reported episodes of PNES-status, and 162 patients (76.8%) did not report PNES-status. There were no significant differences between these two groups of patients regarding the demographic and clinical characteristics and factors potentially predisposing to PNESs. CONCLUSION: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizure status (PNES-status) is relatively common among patients with PNESs. It seems that patients with PNES-status are not different from those with PNES-only, at least regarding the demographic and clinical characteristics and factors potentially predisposing to PNESs.