Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology pp 2876–2880Cite as

Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:

  • 16 Accesses

Synonyms

Hysterical pseudoseizures; Nonepileptic attack disorder; Nonepileptic paroxysmal disorder; Nonepileptic seizures; PNES; Pseudoepileptic seizures; Pseudoseizure; Psychogenic seizures

Short Description or Definition

Spells or seizures that are not epileptic in nature but mimic epileptic seizures (ES) and are not related to another medical condition or physiological event and appear to be of psychogenic origin are referred to as psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). These spells must be distinguished from epileptic seizures, and the gold standard for doing so is to use video-EEG recording (vEEG). Routinely, the patient is admitted to the inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) of a hospital for several days, and during that time, (1) continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) is recorded to determine the presence or absence and location of epileptiform electrical discharges characteristic of epilepsy, and (2) continuous video with audio is recorded to identify behavior during...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   899.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   1,099.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References and Readings

  • Aldenkamp, A. P., & Mulder, O. G. (1997). Behavioural mechanisms involved in pseudo-epileptic seizures: A comparison between patients with epileptic seizures and patients with pseudo-epileptic seizures. Seizure, 6, 275–282.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asadi-Pooya, A. A., & Sperling, M. R. (2015). Epidemiology of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Epilepsy & Behavior, 46, 60–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benbadis, S. R., & LaFrance, W. C. (2010). Clinical features and the role of video-EEG monitoring. In S. C. Schachter & W. C. LaFrance (Eds.), Gates and Rowan’s non-epileptic seizures (3rd ed., pp. 38–50). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binder, L. M., & Salinsky, M. C. (2007). Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Neuropsychology Review, 17, 405–412.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chadwick, D. W. (1993). Seizures and epilepsy in adults. In J. Laidlaw, A. Richens, & D. Chadwick (Eds.), A textbook of epilepsy (4th ed., pp. 165–204). Churchill Livingstone: Edinburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cragar, D. E., Berry, D. T. R., Fakhoury, T. A., Cibula, J. E., & Schmitt, F. A. (2002). A review of diagnostic techniques in the differential diagnosis of epileptic and nonepileptic seizures. Neuropsychology Review, 12, 31–63.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dodrill, C. B. (2008). Do patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures produce trustworthy findings on neuropsychological tests? Epilepsia, 49, 691–695.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dodrill, C. B., & Holmes, M. (2000). Part summary: Psychological and neuropsychological evaluation of the patient with non-epileptic seizures. In J. R. Gates & A. J. Rowan (Eds.), Non-epileptic seizures (2nd ed., pp. 169–181). Boston: Butterworth Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiszman, A., & Kanner, A. M. (2010). Comorbidities in psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: Depressive, anxiety, and personality disorders. In S. C. Schachter & W. C. LaFrance (Eds.), Gates and Rowan’s non-epileptic seizures (3rd ed., pp. 225–234). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gates, J. & Rowans, A. J. (2010). Gates and Rowan’s nonepileptic seizures. In S. C. Schachter, & W. C. LaFrance Jr. (Eds). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffith, N. M., Szaflarski, J. P., Schefft, B. K., Isaradisaikul, D., Meckler, J. M., McNally, K. A., & Privitera, M. D. (2007). Relationship between semiology of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory profile. Epilepsy & Behavior, 11, 105–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffith, N. M., Smith, K. M., Schefft, B. K., Szaflarski, J. P., & Privitera, M. D. (2008). Optimism, pessimism, and neuropsychological performance across semiology-based subtypes of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Epilepsy & Behavior, 13, 478–484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haykal, M. A., & Smith, B. (2015). A therapeutic approach to psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Current Treatment Options in Neurology, 17, 41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11940-015-0371-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henry, T. R., & Drury, I. (1997). Non-epileptic seizures in temporal lobectomy candidates with medically refractory seizures. Neurology, 48, 1374–1382.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, S. W., & Gale, S. D. (2011a). Neuropsychological characteristics of nonepileptic seizure semiological subgroups. Epilepsy & Behavior, 22, 255–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, S. W., & Gale, S. D. (2011b). Predicting psychogenic nonepileptic seizures with the Personality Assessment Inventory and seizure variables. Epilepsy & Behavior, 22, 505–510.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LaFrance, W. C. (2008). Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Current Opinion in Neurology, 21, 195–201.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LaFrance, W. C., & Zimmerman, M. (2010). Classification of nonepileptic seizures. In S. C. Schachter & W. C. LaFrance (Eds.), Gates and Rowan’s non-epileptic seizures (3rd ed., pp. 199–212). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • LaFrance, W. C., Baker, G. A., Duncan, R., Goldstein, L. H., & Reuber, M. (2013). Minimum requirements for the diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: A staged approach. A report from the International League Against Epilepsy Nonepileptic Seizure Task Force. Epilepsia, 54(11), 2005–2018.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Locke, D. E. C., Kirlin, K. A., Thomas, M. L., Osborne, D., Hurst, D. F., Drazkowski, J. F., Sirven, J. I., & Noe, K. H. (2010). The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form in the epilepsy monitoring unit. Epilepsy & Behavior, 172, 252–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, R., Burneo, J. G., Prasad, A., Powell, T., Faught, E., Knowlton, R., Mendez, M., & Kuzniecky, R. (2003). Frequency of epilepsy in patients with psychogenic seizures monitored by video-EEG. Neurology, 61, 1791–1792.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mulder, O. G. (1990). Management of pseudo-epileptic seizures. In M. Dam & L. Gram (Eds.), Comprehensive epileptology (pp. 495–504). New York: Raven.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, N. A., & Reuber, M. (2014). Alterations of consciousness in psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: Emotion, emotion regulation, and dissociation. Epilepsy & Behavior, 30, 43–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rugg-Gunn, F. J., & Sander, J. W. (2010). Nonepileptic paroxysmal neurologic and cardiac events. In S. C. Schachter & W. C. LaFrance (Eds.), Gates and Rowan’s non-epileptic seizures (3rd ed., pp. 62–76). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawchuk, T., & Buchhalter, J. (2015). Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures in children-psychologicla presentation, treatment, and short-term outcomes. Epilepsy & Behavior, 52, 49–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Say, G. N., Tasdemir, H. A., & Ince, H. (2015). Semiological and psychiatric characteristics of children with nonepileptic seizures: Gender-related differences. Seizure, 31, 144–148.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Testa, S. M., Krauss, G. L., Lesser, R. P., & Brandt, J. (2012). Stressful life event appraisal and coping in patients with psychogenic seizures and those with epilepsy. Seizure, 21, 282–287.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkus, R. J., Dodrill, C. B., & Thompson, P. M. (1984). Intensive EEG monitoring and psychological studies of patients with pseudoepileptic seizures. Epilepsia, 25, 100–107.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wiseman, H., & Reuber, M. (2015). New insights into psychogenic nonepileptic seizures 2011–2014. Seizure, 29, 69–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA

    Shawn Gale

  2. Department of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA

    Carl B. Dodrill

Authors
  1. Shawn Gale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carl B. Dodrill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shawn Gale .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

    Jeffrey S. Kreutzer

  2. Kessler Foundation, Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange, NJ, USA

    John DeLuca

  3. Independent Practice, Wynnewood, PA, USA

    Bruce Caplan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Gale, S., Dodrill, C.B. (2018). Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_571

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation