Thoughts, emotions, and dissociative features differentiate patients with epilepsy from patients with psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNESs)

Rick Hendrickson; Alexandra Popescu; Gena Ghearing; Anto Bagic

doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.07.016

Back

Thoughts, emotions, and dissociative features differentiate patients with epilepsy from patients with psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNESs)

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Thoughts, emotions, and dissociative features differentiate patients with epilepsy from patients with psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNESs)

Rick Hendrickson, Alexandra Popescu, Gena Ghearing and Anto Bagic

Epilepsy & behavior, Vol.51, pp.158-162

10/2015

DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.07.016

PMID: 26283304

View Online

Abstract

Psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNESs) are often very difficult to treat, which may be, in part, related to the limited information known about what a person experiences while having PNESs. For this retrospective study, thoughts, emotions, and dissociative features during a spell were evaluated in 351 patients diagnosed with PNESs (N=223) or epilepsy (N=128). We found that a statistically higher number of thoughts, emotions, and dissociative symptoms were endorsed by patients with PNESs versus patients with epilepsy. Patients with PNESs reported significantly more anxiety and frustration, but not depression, compared with those with epilepsy. Emotions and dissociations, but not thoughts, and a history of any type of abuse were endorsed significantly more often by patients with PNESs. Patients with PNESs are prone to having poor outcomes, and interventions focusing on their actual experiences may be helpful for treatment planning.

Somatoform Disorders - physiopathology

Somatoform Disorders - psychology

Humans

Middle Aged

Thinking

Male

Seizures - diagnosis

Electroencephalography - methods

Emotions

Seizures - physiopathology

Dissociative Disorders - physiopathology

Somatoform Disorders - diagnosis

Adult

Female

Retrospective Studies

Dissociative Disorders - diagnosis

Dissociative Disorders - psychology

Seizures - psychology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Thoughts, emotions, and dissociative features differentiate patients with epilepsy from patients with psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNESs)
Creators: Rick Hendrickson - University of Pittsburgh Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (UPCEC), Department of Neurology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address: hendrx@upmc.edu
Alexandra Popescu - University of Pittsburgh Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (UPCEC), Department of Neurology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Gena Ghearing - University of Pittsburgh Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (UPCEC), Department of Neurology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Anto Bagic - University of Pittsburgh Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (UPCEC), Department of Neurology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Epilepsy & behavior, Vol.51, pp.158-162
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.07.016
PMID: 26283304
ISSN: 1525-5050
eISSN: 1525-5069
Language: English
Date published: 10/2015
Academic Unit: Neurology
Record Identifier: 9984020716402771

Metrics

20 Record Views

17 Times Cited - Web of Science

See more details