Abstract
Consciousness is a complex physiologic state that is difficult to account for scientifically but is nonetheless widely understood in intuitive terms. From an operational perspective, the loss of consciousness (i.e., unconsciousness) that most physicians concern themselves with (e.g., in the context of syncope and related disorders) relates to loss of alertness. As discussed by van Dijk et al.,1 this concept of unconsciousness is restricted to a disturbance of the “arousal” part of consciousness that resides either in the brainstem or in the integrity of a very large part of the cerebral cortex. Loss of consciousness in this context is always associated with inability to control posture and consequently the affected individual falls or slumps over.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
van Dijk JG. Conditions that mimic syncope. In: Benditt DG, et al. eds. The Evaluation and Treatment of Syncope: A Handbook of Clinical Practice. 2nd edn. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing; 2006:pp 242–258.
Moya A, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of syncope (version 2009). Eur Heart J. 2009;30:2631–2671.
Lin JT, et al. Convulsive syncope in blood donors. Ann Neurol. 1982;11:525–528.
Galena HJ. Complications occurring from diagnostic venipuncture. J Fam Pract. 1992;34:582–584.
Lempert T, et al. Syncope: a videometric analysis of 56 episodes of transient cerebral hypoxia. Ann Neurol. 1994;36:233–237.
Kanner AM, et al. Psychiatric and neurologic predictors of psychogenic pseudoseizure outcome. Neurology. 1999;53:933–938.
Bowman ES, Markand ON. Psychodynamics and psychiatric diagnoses of pseudoseizure subjects. Am J Psychiatry. 1996;153:57–63.
Hornsveld HK, et al. Double-blind placebo-controlled study of the hyperventilation provocation test and the validity of the hyperventilation syndrome. Lancet. 1996;348:154–158.
Meissner I, et al. The natural history of drop attacks. Neurology. 1986;36:1029–1034.
Ishiyama G, et al. Drop attacks and vertigo secondary to a non-Meniere otologic cause. Arch Neurol. 2003;60:71–75.
Ozeki H, et al. Vestibular drop attack secondary to Meniere’s disease results from unstable otolithic function. Acta Otolaryngol. 2008;128:887–891.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer-Verlag London Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Brignole, M., Benditt, D.G. (2011). Conditions that Mimic Syncope. In: Syncope. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-201-8_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-85729-201-8_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-85729-200-1
Online ISBN: 978-0-85729-201-8
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)