Journal article
Medical comorbidities in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNES) referred for video-EEG monitoring
Epilepsy & behavior, Vol.28(2), pp.137-140
08/2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.05.004
PMID: 23747495
Abstract
Differentiating between psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNES) and epileptic seizures without video-EEG monitoring is difficult. The presence of specific medical comorbidities may discriminate the two, helping physicians suspect PNES over epilepsy earlier. A retrospective analysis comparing the medical comorbidities of patients with PNES with those of patients with epilepsy was performed in 280 patients diagnosed with either PNES (N=158, 74.7% females) or epilepsy (N=122, 46.7% females) in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center over a two-year period. Patients with PNES, compared to those with epilepsy, were mostly female, significantly more likely to have a history of abuse, had more functional somatic syndromes (fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pain syndrome, tension headaches, and irritable bowel syndrome), and had more medical illnesses that are chronic with intermittent attacks (migraines, asthma, and GERD). The presence of at least of one these disorders may lead physicians to suspect PNES over epilepsy and expedite appropriate referral for video-EEG monitoring for diagnosis.
•Patients with PNES are more likely to have fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and IBS.•Patients with PNES are more likely to have migraines, asthma, and GERD.•Having at least of one these disorders is sensitive and specific for PNES.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Medical comorbidities in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNES) referred for video-EEG monitoring
- Creators
- Ronak Dixit - University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USAAlexandra Popescu - University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology, Pittsburgh, PA, USAAnto Bagić - University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology, Pittsburgh, PA, USAGena Ghearing - University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology, Pittsburgh, PA, USARick Hendrickson - University of Pittsburgh Department of Neurology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Epilepsy & behavior, Vol.28(2), pp.137-140
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.yebeh.2013.05.004
- PMID
- 23747495
- ISSN
- 1525-5050
- eISSN
- 1525-5069
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/2013
- Academic Unit
- Neurology
- Record Identifier
- 9984020874302771
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