Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are a type of non-epileptic seizure. They are caused by psychological trauma or other mental health conditions. They can be difficult to diagnose and very frustrating for a patient and their doctor.
The symptoms of PNES are like those of epileptic seizures. They can include:
Some types of symptoms are more common in PNES than in epileptic seizures, such as:
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are considered the body’s reaction to a traumatic psychological event. The patient is not aware of what is occurring during the seizure and most importantly, is not faking their symptoms.
Patients who develop PNES are most likely to have experienced or witnessed:
Sometimes the traumatic event has been repressed. In these cases, psychological therapy can help uncover it. However, there are times that the traumatic event is never discovered.
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are more common in:
PNES often exists along with other mental health conditions, such as:
Diagnosing PNES can be challenging. It may take a long time. This is because other causes must first be excluded.
The doctor may request these tests to help:
Traditional anti-epileptic medications do not work for PNES. However, medicines for co-existing mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, are sometimes helpful.
The main treatment for PNES is psychological therapy. It is important that this is performed by a qualified mental health practitioner. The therapy usually consists of talk therapy, where the patient will be encouraged to work through any traumatic events in a supportive environment.
PNES is often a difficult diagnosis for patients, family and friends to accept. This is partly due to the societal stigma attached to mental health disorders. However, it is important to note that the seizures because of PNES are real responses to real psychological stressors. Studies have shown that if a patient is able to accept their diagnosis, symptoms will often improve. Family and friends play a crucial role in supporting the patient in this.