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Vilyte G, Butler J, Ives-Deliperi V, Pretorius C. Medical and psychiatric comorbidities, somatic and cognitive symptoms, injuries and medical procedure history in patients with functional seizures from a public and a private hospital. Seizure 2024; 119:110-118. [PMID: 38851095 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2024.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Patients with functional seizures (FS), otherwise known as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), from different socioeconomic backgrounds may differ, however, this remains a gap in current literature. Comorbidities can play both a precipitating and a perpetuating role in FS and are important in the planning of individual treatment for this condition. With this study, we aimed to describe and compare the reported medical and psychiatric comorbidities, injuries, somatic and cognitive symptoms, and medical procedures among patients with FS from a private and a public epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) in Cape Town, South Africa. METHODS This is a retrospective case-control study. We collected data on the comorbidity and medical procedure histories, as well as symptoms and clinical signs reported by patients with video-electroencephalographically (video-EEG) confirmed FS without comorbid epilepsy. We used digital patient records starting with the earliest available digital record for each hospital until the year 2022. RESULTS A total of 305 patients from a private hospital and 67 patients from a public hospital were included in the study (N = 372). Public hospital patients had higher odds of reporting intellectual disability (aOR=15.58, 95% CI [1.80, 134.95]), circulatory system disease (aOR=2.63, 95% CI [1.02, 6.78]) and gait disturbance (aOR=8.52, 95% CI [1.96, 37.08]) compared to patients with FS attending the private hospital. They did, however, have fewer odds of reporting a history of an infectious or parasitic disease (aOR=0.31, 95% CI [0.11, 0.87]), respiratory system disease (aOR=0.23, 95% CI [0.06, 0.82]), or medical procedures in the past (aOR=0.32, 95% CI [0.16, 0.63]). CONCLUSION The study presents prevalence and comparative data on the medical profiles of patients with FS from different socioeconomic backgrounds which may inform future considerations in FS diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Vilyte
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
| | - James Butler
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Victoria Ives-Deliperi
- Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Chrisma Pretorius
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Flasbeck V, Jungilligens J, Lemke I, Beckers J, Öztürk H, Wellmer J, Seliger C, Juckel G, Popkirov S. Heartbeat evoked potentials and autonomic arousal during dissociative seizures: insights from electrophysiology and neuroimaging. BMJ Neurol Open 2024; 6:e000665. [PMID: 38860229 PMCID: PMC11163632 DOI: 10.1136/bmjno-2024-000665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Dissociative seizures often occur in the context of dysregulated affective arousal and entail dissociative symptoms such as a disintegration of bodily awareness. However, the interplay between affective arousal and changes in interoceptive processing at the onset of dissociative seizures is not well understood. Methods Using retrospective routine data obtained from video-electroencephalography telemetry in a university hospital epilepsy monitoring unit, we investigate ictal changes in cardiac indices of autonomic arousal and heartbeat evoked potentials (HEPs) in 24 patients with dissociative seizures. Results Results show autonomic arousal during seizures with increased heart rate and a shift towards sympathetic activity. Compared with baseline, ictal HEP amplitudes over central and right prefrontal electrodes (F8, Fz) were significantly less pronounced during seizures, suggesting diminished cortical representation of interoceptive information. Significant correlations between heart rate variability measures and HEPs were observed at baseline, with more sympathetic and less parasympathetic activity related to less pronounced HEPs. Interestingly, these relationships weakened during seizures, suggesting a disintegration of autonomic arousal and interoceptive processing during dissociative seizures. In a subgroup of 16 patients, MRI-based cortical thickness analysis found a correlation with HEP amplitudes in the left somatosensory association cortex. Conclusions These findings possibly represent an electrophysiological hint of how autonomic arousal could negatively impact bodily awareness in dissociative seizures, and how these processes might be related to underlying brain structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Flasbeck
- Division of Clinical and Experimental Neurophysiology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, Ruhr University, LWL University Hospital, Bochum, Germany
| | - Johannes Jungilligens
- Department of Neurology, Ruhr University, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Bochum, Germany
| | - Isabell Lemke
- Department of Neurology, Ruhr University, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jule Beckers
- Department of Neurology, Ruhr University, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Bochum, Germany
| | - Hilal Öztürk
- Department of Neurology, Ruhr University, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Bochum, Germany
- Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jörg Wellmer
- Ruhr Epileptology, Department of Neurology, Ruhr University, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Bochum, Germany
| | - Corinna Seliger
- Department of Neurology, Ruhr University, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Bochum, Germany
| | - Georg Juckel
- Division of Clinical and Experimental Neurophysiology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Preventive Medicine, Ruhr University, LWL University Hospital, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stoyan Popkirov
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
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Jungilligens J, Perez DL. Predictive Processing and the Pathophysiology of Functional Neurological Disorder. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 38755514 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2024_473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The contemporary neuroscience understanding of the brain as an active inference organ supports that our conscious experiences, including sensorimotor perceptions, depend on the integration of probabilistic predictions with incoming sensory input across hierarchically organized levels. As in other systems, these complex processes are prone to error under certain circumstances, which may lead to alterations in their outcomes (i.e., variations in sensations and movements). Such variations are an important aspect of functional neurological disorder, a complex disorder at the interface of brain-mind-body interactions. Thus, predictive processing frameworks offer fundamental mechanistic insights into the pathophysiology of functional neurological disorder. In recent years, many of the aspects relevant to the neurobiology of functional neurological disorder - e.g., aberrant motor and sensory processes, symptom expectation, self-agency, and illness beliefs, as well as interoception, allostasis, and emotion - have been investigated through the lens of predictive processing frameworks. Here, we provide an overview of the current state of research on predictive processing and the pathophysiology of functional neurological disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Jungilligens
- Behavioral Neurology Research Group, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - David L Perez
- Division of Behavioral Neurology and Integrated Brain Medicine, Department of Neurology, Functional Neurological Disorder Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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4
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Datta V, Blum AW. Forensic assessment of somatoform and functional neurological disorders. BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES & THE LAW 2024; 42:163-175. [PMID: 38450761 DOI: 10.1002/bsl.2651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Functional neurological disorders (FND) and somatization are common in clinical practice and medicolegal settings. These conditions are frequently disabling and, if arising following an accident, may lead to claims for legal compensation or occupational disability (such as social security disability insurance). However, distinguishing FND and somatization from symptoms that are intentionally produced (i.e., malingered or factitious) may pose a major forensic psychiatric challenge. In this article, we describe how somatoform disorders and FND lie along a spectrum of abnormal illness-related behaviors, including factitious disorder, compensation neurosis, and malingering. We provide a systematic approach to the forensic assessment of FND and conclude by describing common litigation scenarios in which FND may be at issue. Forensic testimony may play an important role in the resolution of such cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek Datta
- Private Practice, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Austin W Blum
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Sacramento, California, USA
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Lewis EC, Jaeger A, Girn M, Omene E, Brendle M, Argento E. Exploring psychedelic-assisted therapy in the treatment of functional seizures: A review of underlying mechanisms and associated brain networks. J Psychopharmacol 2024; 38:407-416. [PMID: 38654554 PMCID: PMC11102649 DOI: 10.1177/02698811241248395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Functional seizures (FS), the most common subtype of functional neurological disorder (FND), cause serious neurological disability and significantly impact quality of life. Characterized by episodic disturbances of functioning that resemble epileptic seizures, FS coincide with multiple comorbidities and are treated poorly by existing approaches. Novel treatment approaches are sorely needed. Notably, mounting evidence supports the safety and efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) for several psychiatric conditions, motivating investigations into whether this efficacy also extends to neurological disorders. Here, we synthesize past empirical findings and frameworks to construct a biopsychosocial mechanistic argument for the potential of PAT as a treatment for FS. In doing so, we highlight FS as a well-defined cohort to further understand the large-scale neural mechanisms underpinning PAT. Our synthesis is guided by a complexity science perspective which we contend can afford unique mechanistic insight into both FS and PAT, as well as help bridge these two domains. We also leverage this perspective to propose a novel analytic roadmap to identify markers of FS diagnostic specificity and treatment success. This endeavor continues the effort to bridge clinical neurology with psychedelic medicine and helps pave the way for a new field of psychedelic neurology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Cole Lewis
- Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Manesh Girn
- Neuroscape, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Madeline Brendle
- Numinus Wellness Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Health Outcomes Division, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Elena Argento
- Numinus Wellness Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
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Starbrink M, Eikeseth S, Eldevik S, Edervall J. Experimental assessment of seizure-like behaviors in a girl with Rett syndrome. Epilepsy Behav Rep 2024; 26:100666. [PMID: 38681818 PMCID: PMC11052899 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebr.2024.100666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Contextual events are recognized to affect seizure-like behaviors, yet there is limited research on procedures assessing contextual control. This study aimed to examine the utilization of a brief experimental precursor functional analysis within a clinical team assessment. Furthermore, the study explored if telehealth supervision could guide a parent administered replication of the functional analysis. The participants were a young female with Rett syndrome and a history of epilepsy as well as non-epileptic seizures and her mother. The functional analysis procedures consisted of the systematic alternations of contextual conditions that were hypothesized to either prevent or evoke seizure-like behaviors. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of behavioral precursors that were identified to consequently signal subsequent seizure-like behaviors. In addition, procedure fidelity and interobserver agreement data were obtained alongside parent rating of the procedure's social validity. The clinical functional analysis clearly suggested that the seizure-like behaviors served the function of access to attention and preferred activities. A parent administered functional analysis replicated clinical functional analysis findings. The parent's fidelity to procedures was high and scores in social validity were excellent. The results show that functional analysis procedures could provide essential information in assessment of non-epileptic seizures. Strengths and limitations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magnus Starbrink
- Oslo Metropolitan University. P.O. Box 4 St. Olavs Plass, N-0130 Oslo, Norway1
- Swedish National Center for Rett Syndrome and Related Disorders, Box 601, 832 23 Frösön, Sweden2
| | - Svein Eikeseth
- Oslo Metropolitan University. P.O. Box 4 St. Olavs Plass, N-0130 Oslo, Norway1
| | - Sigmund Eldevik
- Oslo Metropolitan University. P.O. Box 4 St. Olavs Plass, N-0130 Oslo, Norway1
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Van Patten R, Chan L, Tocco K, Mordecai K, Altalib H, Cotton E, Correia S, Gaston TE, Grayson LP, Martin A, Fry S, Goodman A, Allendorfer JB, Szaflarski J, LaFrance WC. Reduced Subjective Cognitive Concerns With Neurobehavioral Therapy in Functional Seizures and Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 36:197-205. [PMID: 38481168 DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.20230138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Functional seizures are common among people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Subjective cognitive concerns refer to a person's own perception of problems with cognitive functioning in everyday life. The authors investigated the presence and correlates of subjective cognitive concerns and the response to neurobehavioral therapy among adults with TBI and functional seizures (TBI+FS group). METHODS In this observational study, participants in the TBI+FS group (N=47) completed a 12-session neurobehavioral therapy protocol for seizures, while participants in the comparison group (TBI without seizures) (N=50) received usual treatment. Subjective cognitive concerns, objective cognition, mental health, and quality of life were assessed before and after treatment. Data collection occurred from 2018 to 2022. RESULTS Baseline subjective cognitive concerns were reported for 37 (79%) participants in the TBI+FS group and 20 (40%) participants in the comparison group. In a multivariable regression model in the TBI+FS group, baseline global mental health (β=-0.97) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (β=-1.01) were associated with subjective cognitive concerns at baseline. The TBI+FS group had fewer subjective cognitive concerns after treatment (η2=0.09), whereas the TBI comparison group showed a nonsignificant increase in subjective cognitive concerns. CONCLUSIONS Subjective cognitive concerns are common among people with TBI and functional seizures and may be related to general mental health and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Evidence-based neurobehavioral therapy for functional seizures is a reasonable treatment option to address such concerns in this population, although additional studies in culturally diverse samples are needed. In addition, people with functional seizures would likely benefit from rehabilitation specifically targeted toward cognitive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Van Patten
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Lawrence Chan
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Krista Tocco
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Kristen Mordecai
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Hamada Altalib
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Erica Cotton
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Stephen Correia
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Tyler E Gaston
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Leslie P Grayson
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Amber Martin
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Samantha Fry
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Adam Goodman
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Jane B Allendorfer
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - Jerzy Szaflarski
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
| | - W Curt LaFrance
- Center for Neurorestoration and Neurotechnology, Veterans Affairs (VA) Providence Health Care System, and Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. (Van Patten, Chan, Tocco, LaFrance); Rhode Island Hospital, Providence (Tocco, LaFrance); VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore (Mordecai); VA Connecticut Health Care System and Department of Neurology, Yale University, New Haven (Altalib); Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Ill. (Cotton); College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens (Correia); Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham (Gaston, Grayson, Martin, Fry, Goodman, Allendorfer, Szaflarski)
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Jungilligens J, Flohr MC, Lange M, Wellmer J, Popkirov S. The relationship of action, affect, and metacognition in functional seizures. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2023; 45:1003-1013. [PMID: 38007609 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2023.2287778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Metacognition provides a lens through which individuals experience, interpret, and respond to their affective states and behavior; it might thus influence complex neuropsychiatric conditions such as functional seizures - events characterized by states of heightened affective arousal and the disinhibition of prepotent behavior. In this pilot study, we aimed to establish a better understanding of the role of metacognition in functional seizures and its relationship to affective arousal and behavioral disinhibition (i.e., problems in suppressing prepared behavior). We hypothesized that affective arousal is related to higher behavioral disinhibition as well as slower reaction times, that affect and action (performing vs. not performing a movement) are related to memory and metacognition, and that metacognition is related to illness characteristics. METHODS We used a combination of an emotional go/no-go and a metacognitive recognition task with affectively valenced and neutral images in 18 patients with functional seizures. We compared markers of behavioral inhibition as well as indices for memory and metacognitive performance between affective (vs. neutral) and action/go (vs. inhibition/no-go) conditions. RESULTS Contrary to our hypothesis, behavioral disinhibition was not different between conditions. However, we found slower reaction times for affectively valenced stimuli. Memory performance and metacognition were better for affectively valenced pictures and for pictures used in go trials (i.e., associated with action/performing the movement). Illness factors (illness duration, seizure frequency, levels of self-reported anxiety) were correlated with aspects of metacognition. CONCLUSIONS This pilot study offers first insights into alterations in metacognition related to action and affect in patients with functional seizures; specifically, that affectively valenced stimuli and active engagement are related to enhanced memory and metacognition. This relationship was also found with respect to illness factors. These results provide insight into potentially underlying pathomechanisms, although the lack of a control group limits evaluating the specificity of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Jungilligens
- Behavioral Neurology Research Group, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Marie-Christin Flohr
- Behavioral Neurology Research Group, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Miriam Lange
- Behavioral Neurology Research Group, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jörg Wellmer
- Ruhr Epileptology, Department of Neurology, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stoyan Popkirov
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
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Drane DL, Hewitt KC, Price ME, Rush BK, Blackmon K, Okada N, Shade T, Valentin E, Vinson J, Rosen P, Loring DW. Case study of invalid to valid shift in cognitive performance following successful treatment of psychogenic nonepileptic seizure events. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2023; 45:1024-1038. [PMID: 38533868 DOI: 10.1080/13803395.2024.2335600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES) who fail performance validity testing (PVT) may appear to produce non-valid cognitive profiles. Consequently, they may not get referred to treatment and events persist, with worsening disability and high resource utilization. As a result, we report pre- and post-treatment neuropsychological evaluation findings in a 59-year-old woman with a confirmed diagnosis of PNES established using video-EEG monitoring. At pre-treatment baseline neuropsychological evaluation, PNES events occurred weekly to daily. Performance was impaired across PVTs and across multiple cognitive domains. After behavioral intervention specific to PNES, these events substantially reduced in frequency to rare stress-induced flares. Post-treatment neuropsychological evaluation revealed marked improvement of most cognitive and behavioral scores from baseline, and valid PVT scores. We review predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors for PNES and cognitive impairment in this case and discuss the patient's outcome from treatment. Effectively managing PNES events and dissociative tendencies while reducing unnecessary pharmacological interventions appears to have allowed this patient to function closer to her optimal state. This case illustrates the complexity of Functional Neurologic Disorder (FND) clinical presentation and challenges the assumption that suboptimal neuropsychological performance predicts poor treatment engagement and outcome. We showcase the reversibility of PNES and cognitive manifestations of FND using targeted psychotherapeutic interventions, which resulted in reduced disability and associated healthcare costs, as well as re-engagement in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Drane
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kelsey C Hewitt
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michele E Price
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Beth K Rush
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Karen Blackmon
- Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Noah Okada
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Taylor Shade
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Edward Valentin
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joseph Vinson
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Phyllis Rosen
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David W Loring
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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10
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Ryan JM, Wagner KT, Yerram S, Concannon C, Lin JX, Rooney P, Hanrahan B, Titoff V, Connolly NL, Cranmer R, DeMaria N, Xia X, Mykins B, Erickson S, Couderc JP, Schifitto G, Hughes I, Wang D, Erba G, Auerbach DS. Heart rate and autonomic biomarkers distinguish convulsive epileptic vs. functional or dissociative seizures. Seizure 2023; 111:178-186. [PMID: 37660533 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2023.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE 20-40% of individuals whose seizures are not controlled by anti-seizure medications exhibit manifestations comparable to epileptic seizures (ES), but there are no EEG correlates. These events are called functional or dissociative seizures (FDS). Due to limited access to EEG-monitoring and inconclusive results, we aimed to develop an alternative diagnostic tool that distinguishes ES vs. FDS. We evaluated the temporal evolution of ECG-based measures of autonomic function (heart rate variability, HRV) to determine whether they distinguish ES vs. FDS. METHODS The prospective study includes patients admitted to the University of Rochester Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. Participants are 18-65 years old, without therapies or co-morbidities associated with altered autonomics. A habitual ES or FDS is recorded during admission. HRV analysis is performed to evaluate the temporal changes in autonomic function during the peri‑ictal period (150-minutes each pre-/post-ictal). We determined if autonomic measures distinguish ES vs. FDS. RESULTS The study includes 53 ES and 46 FDS. Temporal evolution of HR and autonomics significantly differ surrounding ES vs. FDS. The pre-to-post-ictal change (delta) in HR differs surrounding ES vs. FDS, stratified for convulsive and non-convulsive events. Post-ictal HR, total autonomic (SDNN & Total Power), vagal (RMSSD & HF), and baroreflex (LF) function differ for convulsive ES vs. convulsive FDS. HR distinguishes non-convulsive ES vs. non-convulsive FDS with ROC>0.7, sensitivity>70%, but specificity<50%. HR-delta and post-ictal HR, SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF, and Total Power each distinguish convulsive ES vs. convulsive FDS (ROC, 0.83-0.98). Models with HR-delta and post-ictal HR provide the highest diagnostic accuracy for convulsive ES vs. convulsive FDS: 92% sensitivity, 94% specificity, ROC 0.99). SIGNIFICANCE HR and HRV measures accurately distinguish convulsive, but not non-convulsive, events (ES vs. FDS). Results establish the framework for future studies to apply this diagnostic tool to more heterogeneous populations, and on out-of-hospital recordings, particularly for populations without access to epilepsy monitoring units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin M Ryan
- Department of Pharmacology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States
| | - Kyle T Wagner
- Department of Pharmacology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States
| | - Sushma Yerram
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Cathleen Concannon
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Jennifer X Lin
- School of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Patrick Rooney
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Brian Hanrahan
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Victoria Titoff
- Department of Neurology-Epilepsy, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States; Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Noreen L Connolly
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Ramona Cranmer
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Natalia DeMaria
- Department of Pharmacology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States
| | - Xiaojuan Xia
- Clinical Cardiology Research Center Medicine-Cardiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Betty Mykins
- Clinical Cardiology Research Center Medicine-Cardiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Steven Erickson
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Jean-Philippe Couderc
- Clinical Cardiology Research Center Medicine-Cardiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Giovanni Schifitto
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Inna Hughes
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - Dongliang Wang
- Department of Public Health, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States
| | - Giuseppe Erba
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, United States
| | - David S Auerbach
- Department of Pharmacology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, United States.
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11
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Sørensen NB, Nielsen RE, Christensen AE, Kjeldsen MK, Rask CU, Christensen J, Hansen AS. Treatment Provided in Children and Adolescents with Functional Seizures-A Danish Nationwide Cohort. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1218. [PMID: 37508715 PMCID: PMC10378534 DOI: 10.3390/children10071218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Functional seizures (FS) are episodes of paroxysmal involuntary movements and altered consciousness without the typical changes in the electroencephalography as with epilepsy. A multidisciplinary approach is the golden standard in the treatment of FS. This study examined the cross-sectoral collaboration and treatment modalities provided to children and adolescents after a diagnosis of FS. METHOD A Danish nationwide cohort, consisting of 334 children and adolescents, aged 5-17 years, with a validated diagnosis of FS during the period 2004-2014 was studied. Medical record data were collected from diagnosing hospital departments. Management and treatment modalities from the time of diagnosis up to three months after diagnosis were explored. RESULTS The most used treatment modalities were psychoeducation (n = 289, 86.5%) and follow-up in outpatient care (n = 192, 70.6%). A cross-sectoral collaboration was initiated for a third of cases (n = 98, 29.3%). The most commonly provided treatment combination consisted of psychoeducation, follow-up in outpatient care and psychotherapy; however, only a few patients received this specific combination (n = 14, 4.2%). CONCLUSIONS The treatment applied was individualized and consisted of varying use of treatment modalities. Initiatives to curate clinical guidelines and implement a multidisciplinary treatment approach should be further explored to improve treatment for this young group of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Brandborg Sørensen
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - René Ernst Nielsen
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Ann-Eva Christensen
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
| | | | - Charlotte Ulrikka Rask
- Research Unit, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Psychiatry, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jakob Christensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anne Sofie Hansen
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
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12
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Mavroudis I, Chatzikonstantinou S, Petridis F, Palade OD, Ciobica A, Balmus IM. Functional Overlay Model of Persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1028. [PMID: 37508960 PMCID: PMC10377031 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13071028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent post-concussion syndrome (PPCS) is a complex and debilitating condition that can develop after head concussions or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). PPCS is characterized by a wide range of symptoms, including headaches, dizziness, fatigue, cognitive deficits, and emotional changes, that can persist for months or even years after the initial injury. Despite extensive research, the underlying mechanisms of PPCS are still poorly understood; furthermore, there are limited resources to predict PPCS development in mTBI patients and no established treatment. Similar to PPCS, the etiology and pathogenesis of functional neurological disorders (FNDs) are not clear neither fully described. Nonspecific multifactorial interactions that were also seen in PPCS have been identified as possible predispositions for FND onset and progression. Thus, we aimed to describe a functional overlay model of PPCS that emphasizes the interplay between functional and structural factors in the development and perpetuation of PPCS symptoms. Our model suggests that the initial brain injury triggers a cascade of physiological and psychological processes that disrupt the normal functioning of the brain leading to persistent symptoms. This disruption can be compounded by pre-existing factors, such as genetics, prior injury, and psychological distress, which can increase the vulnerability to PPCS. Moreover, specific interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, neurofeedback, and physical exercise can target the PPCS treatment approach. Thus, the functional overlay model of PPCS provides a new framework for understanding the complex nature of this condition and for developing more effective treatments. By identifying and targeting specific functional factors that contribute to PPCS symptoms, clinicians and researchers can improve the diagnosis, management, and ultimately, outcomes of patients with this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Mavroudis
- Department of Neuroscience, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
- Faculty of Medicine, Leeds University, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | | | - Foivos Petridis
- Third Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Octavian Dragos Palade
- Surgical Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa", 700115 Iasi, Romania
| | - Alin Ciobica
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 20th Carol I Avenue, 700506 Iasi, Romania
- Centre of Biomedical Research, Romanian Academy, B dul Carol I, No. 8, 700506 Iasi, Romania
- Academy of Romanian Scientists, Splaiul Independentei nr. 54, Sector 5, 050094 Bucuresti, Romania
| | - Ioana-Miruna Balmus
- Department of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi, Alexandru Lapusneanu Street, No. 26, 700057 Iasi, Romania
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13
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Oddo S, Sarudiansky M, Myers L, D'Alessio L. Editorial: Psychiatric comorbidities in patients with epilepsy: diagnosis and treatment. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1217656. [PMID: 37346901 PMCID: PMC10280719 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1217656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Oddo
- Epilepsy Center, El Cruce Hospital and Ramos Mejía Hospital, Studies in Neurosciences and Complex Systems-National Scientific and Technical Research Council (ENYS-CONICET), Buenos Aires University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mercedes Sarudiansky
- Faculty of Psychology, National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lorna Myers
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychogenic non-epileptic Seizures Program, Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group, New York, NY, United States
| | - Luciana D'Alessio
- Epilepsy Center, Ramos Mejía Hospital, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurosciences-National Scientific and Technical Research Council (IBCN-CONICET), Buenos Aires University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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14
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Coey P, Nic Craith I, McQuaid L, D'Alton P, O'Connor C. Does explaining psychogenic nonepileptic seizures using either a biomedical or biopsychosocial framework affect young people's illness representations? An experimental vignette study. Epilepsy Behav 2023; 142:109186. [PMID: 37028150 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2023.109186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Lay representations of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are important both for understanding public stigma and anticipating patient responses to PNES diagnosis. The current study presents the first evidence of the general public's representations of PNES and the malleability of these understandings to different ways of explaining PNES. An online experimental study exposed participants (n = 193, aged 18-25 years) to a vignette describing a case of PNES in biomedical terms, PNES in biopsychosocial terms, or epilepsy. Subsequent questionnaires assessed participants' illness representations, causal attributions, and stigmatising attitudes regarding the case about which they read. Results suggest that compared with biomedical framings, biopsychosocial explanations increased perceptions of PNES as threatening. While epilepsy was attributed to significantly more biological and less social causes than either of the PNES vignettes, causal attributions did not differ between biomedically- vs. biopsychosocially-framed PNES. Neither were there any differences between the three conditions in stigmatising attitudes towards people who experience seizures. These findings are useful for clinicians delivering a PNES diagnosis and patients disclosing a PNES diagnosis, in helping anticipate responses to these communications. Further research is required to confirm the clinical and societal significance of the study's first insights into the dynamics of lay responses to PNES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Coey
- Paediatric Psychology Department, Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland; School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | | | - Léa McQuaid
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Paul D'Alton
- School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland; Psychology Department, St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland
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15
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Milano BA, Moutoussis M, Convertino L. The neurobiology of functional neurological disorders characterised by impaired awareness. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1122865. [PMID: 37009094 PMCID: PMC10060839 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1122865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
We review the neurobiology of Functional Neurological Disorders (FND), i.e., neurological disorders not explained by currently identifiable histopathological processes, in order to focus on those characterised by impaired awareness (functionally impaired awareness disorders, FIAD), and especially, on the paradigmatic case of Resignation Syndrome (RS). We thus provide an improved more integrated theory of FIAD, able to guide both research priorities and the diagnostic formulation of FIAD. We systematically address the diverse spectrum of clinical presentations of FND with impaired awareness, and offer a new framework for understanding FIAD. We find that unraveling the historical development of neurobiological theory of FIAD is of paramount importance for its current understanding. Then, we integrate contemporary clinical material in order to contextualise the neurobiology of FIAD within social, cultural, and psychological perspectives. We thus review neuro-computational insights in FND in general, to arrive at a more coherent account of FIAD. FIAD may be based on maladaptive predictive coding, shaped by stress, attention, uncertainty, and, ultimately, neurally encoded beliefs and their updates. We also critically appraise arguments in support of and against such Bayesian models. Finally, we discuss implications of our theoretical account and provide pointers towards an improved clinical diagnostic formulation of FIAD. We suggest directions for future research towards a more unified theory on which future interventions and management strategies could be based, as effective treatments and clinical trial evidence remain limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Annunziata Milano
- Institute of Life Sciences, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Michael Moutoussis
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Max Planck UCL Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery (UCLH), London, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Convertino
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery (UCLH), London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Laura Convertino,
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16
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Leroy A, Tarrada A, Garcin B, Hingray C. Crisi psicogene non epilettiche (funzionali/dissociative). Neurologia 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/s1634-7072(22)47362-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
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17
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Yang T, Roberts C, Winton-Brown T, Lloyd M, Kwan P, O'Brien TJ, Velakoulis D, Rayner G, Malpas CB. Childhood trauma in patients with epileptic vs nonepileptic seizures. Epilepsia 2023; 64:184-195. [PMID: 36300720 PMCID: PMC10100454 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Childhood trauma has been implicated as a risk factor for the etiology of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Relatively little attention has been paid to whether profiles of specific trauma types differ between patients with epilepsy and PNES. Investigating childhood trauma profiles in these patient groups may identify psychological vulnerabilities that predispose to developing PNES, and aid early diagnoses, prevention, and treatment. METHODS Data were collected from two cohorts (nRetrospective = 203; nProspective = 209) admitted to video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring units in Melbourne Australia. The differences in Childhood Trauma Questionnaire domain score between patient groups were investigated using standardized effect sizes and general linear mixed-effects models (GLMMs). Receiver-operating characteristic curves were used to investigate classification accuracy. RESULTS In the retrospective cohort, patients diagnosed with PNES reported greater childhood emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and physical neglect relative to patients with epilepsy. These differences were replicated in the prospective cohort, except for physical abuse. GLMMs revealed significant main effects for group in both cohorts, but no evidence for any group by domain interactions. Reported sexual abuse showed the best screening performance of PNES, although no psychometric scores were adequate as isolated measures. SIGNIFICANCE Patients with PNES report a greater frequency of childhood trauma than patients with epilepsy. This effect appears to hold across all trauma types, with no strong evidence emerging for a particular trauma type that is more prevalent in PNES. From a practical perspective, inquiry regarding a history of sexual abuse shows the most promise as a screening measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianren Yang
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Caitlin Roberts
- Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Toby Winton-Brown
- Alfred Brain, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael Lloyd
- Alfred Brain, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Patrick Kwan
- Alfred Brain, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Terence J O'Brien
- Alfred Brain, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dennis Velakoulis
- Neuropsychiatry, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Genevieve Rayner
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Alfred Brain, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Austin Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Charles B Malpas
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Alfred Brain, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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18
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Xiong W, Kameneva T, Lambert E, Cook MJ, Richardson MP, Nurse ES. Forecasting psychogenic non-epileptic seizure likelihood from ambulatory EEG and ECG. J Neural Eng 2022; 19. [PMID: 36270501 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/ac9c97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Objective.Critical slowing features (variance and autocorrelation) of long-term continuous electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG) data have previously been used to forecast epileptic seizure onset. This study tested the feasibility of forecasting non-epileptic seizures using the same methods. In doing so, we examined if long-term cycles of brain and cardiac activity are present in clinical physiological recordings of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES).Approach.Retrospectively accessed ambulatory EEG and ECG data from 15 patients with non-epileptic seizures and no background of epilepsy were used for developing the forecasting system. The median period of recordings was 161 h, with a median of 7 non-epileptic seizures per patient. The phases of different cycles (5 min, 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h) of EEG and RR interval (RRI) critical slowing features were investigated. Forecasters were generated using combinations of the variance and autocorrelation of both EEG and the RRI of the ECG at each of the aforementioned cycle lengths. Optimal forecasters were selected as those with the highest area under the receiver-operator curve (AUC).Main results.It was found that PNES events occurred in the rising phases of EEG feature cycles of 12 and 24 h in duration at a rate significantly above chance. We demonstrated that the proposed forecasters achieved performance significantly better than chance in 8/15 of patients, and the mean AUC of the best forecaster across patients was 0.79.Significance.To our knowledge, this is the first study to retrospectively forecast non-epileptic seizures using both EEG and ECG data. The significance of EEG in the forecasting models suggests that cyclic EEG features of non-epileptic seizures exist. This study opens the potential of seizure forecasting beyond epilepsy, into other disorders of episodic loss of consciousness or dissociation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Xiong
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tatiana Kameneva
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.,Iverson Health Innovation Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Elisabeth Lambert
- Iverson Health Innovation Institute, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.,School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mark J Cook
- Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Graeme Clark Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mark P Richardson
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Centre for Epilepsy, King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ewan S Nurse
- Department of Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Seer Medical, Melbourne, Australia
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19
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Hussien Mohamed Ahmed KA, Elnaiem W, Abdalla YA, Hamza SB, Ibrahim M, Abdallah AM, Hajhamed M, Elfatih G, Fakhreldeen A, Hassan T, Faisal R, Salih RA, Mahmoud MA, Ahmed M, Fadlallah Y, Alhusseini RT, Albasheer N, Shamsaldeen L, Mohammed L, Siddig A, Alamin Alkhalifamohamed HM, Salih EH, Hussien A, Fadelallah Eljack MM. Prevalence and risk factors of functional seizures among adult Sudanese patients with epilepsy, a cross-sectional clinic-based study. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2022; 82:104712. [PMID: 36268419 PMCID: PMC9577850 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Walaa Elnaiem
- University of Khartoum, Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | | | - MuazA. Ibrahim
- University of Bahri, Faculty of Medicine, Teaching Assistant at Department of Internal Medicine, Khartoum North, Sudan
| | | | - Mawahib Hajhamed
- Ahfad University for Women, Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Ghassan Elfatih
- University of Khartoum, Faculty of Medicine, Omdurman, Sudan
| | | | - Tibyan Hassan
- Ahfad University for Women, Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum North, Sudan
| | - Roaa Faisal
- Ahfad University for Women, Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Rufaida A. Salih
- Ahfad University for Women, Faculty of Medicine, Omdurman, Sudan
| | - Mihad A. Mahmoud
- Ahfad University for Women, Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Mwaez Ahmed
- Ahfad University for Women, Faculty of Medicine, Omdurman, Sudan
| | - Yousif Fadlallah
- Omdurman Islamic University, Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | - Nijood Albasheer
- Ahfad University for Women, Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Lina Shamsaldeen
- Ahfad University for Women, Faculty of Medicine, Omdurman, Sudan
| | - Leenah Mohammed
- Alzaiem Alazhari University, Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Amira Siddig
- Al Neelain University, Faculty of Medicine, Khartoum, Sudan
| | | | | | | | - Mohammed Mahmmoud Fadelallah Eljack
- Community Department, University of Bakht Alruda, Ad Duwaym, Sudan
- Corresponding author. Community Department, University of Bakht Alruda, Ad Duwaym, Sudan.
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20
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Fiorio M, Braga M, Marotta A, Villa-Sánchez B, Edwards MJ, Tinazzi M, Barbiani D. Functional neurological disorder and placebo and nocebo effects: shared mechanisms. Nat Rev Neurol 2022; 18:624-635. [PMID: 36075980 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-022-00711-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Functional neurological disorder (FND) is characterized by neurological symptoms that cannot be explained by a structural neurological cause. Among the different aetiological models that have been proposed for FND, of note is the Bayesian predictive coding model, which posits that perception relies on top-down cortical predictions (priors) to infer the source of incoming sensory information. This model can also apply to non-pathological experiences, such as placebo and nocebo effects, wherein sensory information is shaped by prior expectations and learning. To date, most studies of the relationship between placebo and nocebo effects and FND have focused on the use of placebos for diagnosis and treatment of FND. Here, we propose that this relationship might go beyond diagnosis and therapy. We develop a framework in which shared cognitive, personality and neuroanatomical factors justify the consideration of a deeper link between FND and placebo and nocebo effects. This new perspective might offer guidance for clarification of the pathogenesis of FND and for the identification of potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirta Fiorio
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
| | - Miriam Braga
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Angela Marotta
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Mark J Edwards
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Sciences, St George's University of London, London, UK
| | - Michele Tinazzi
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Diletta Barbiani
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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21
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Cobb SJ, Vaughn BV, Sagherian K. Nonpharmacologic Interventions and Seizure Frequency in Patients With Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures: An Integrative Review. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc 2022:10783903221107637. [PMID: 35801259 DOI: 10.1177/10783903221107637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) pose a heavy burden on patients' lives and the health care system. The symptoms of PNES are often debilitating and cause high rates of disability and poor quality of life. Many treatment options are available, but there is no clear consensus on best practices. AIM To critique and synthesize the current literature on nonpharmacologic interventions and effects on seizure frequency in patients with PNES. METHODS An integrative review guided by the Whittemore and Knafl approach. RESULTS The review included 24 studies published from 2010 to 2020. Interventions for PNES included individualized psychotherapies, group therapies, multimodal psychotherapies, self-help therapies, and complementary and alternative medicine therapies. Individual psychotherapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and psychoeducation were the most used treatment modalities. The most effective treatments for seizure frequency reduction were those that included multiple psychotherapy sessions with a health care provider and covered multiple domains (e.g., understanding of diagnosis, identifying triggers, and developing effective coping strategies). CONCLUSIONS Seizure frequency can be reduced in patients with PNES with multiple nonpharmacologic interventions. However, seizure frequency is not considered a comprehensive outcome measure and provides little insight into other important life domains. Further research is needed on nonpharmacologic interventions for PNES and effects on other areas of life such as sleep, employment status, global functioning, and self-efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra J Cobb
- Sandra J. Cobb, MSN, FNP-C, RN, REEGT, PhD in nursing candidate, University of Tennessee Knoxville, College of Nursing, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Bradley V Vaughn
- Bradley V. Vaughn, MD, Professor, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Knar Sagherian
- Knar Sagherian, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Nursing, Knoxville, TN, USA
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22
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Janocko NJ, Morton ML, Groover O, Teagarden DL, Villarreal HK, Merchant S, Ahuruonye N, Rodriguez-Ruiz AA, Drane DL, Karakis I. Translating Phenomenology of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures Into Nosology: Insights From Patients' and Caregivers' Profiles. Neurologist 2022; 27:100-105. [PMID: 34855664 DOI: 10.1097/nrl.0000000000000378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) can be semiologically dichotomized into those with hyperkinetic and those with paucikinetic events. The objective of this study was to compare characteristics of patients with diverse phenomenology and their caregivers to evaluate for differences that could inform about disease nosology. METHODS Patients and caregivers monitored at the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit completed surveys about sociodemographic and disease characteristics, treatment and health care utilization, physical and psychosocial impact, and epilepsy knowledge. Patients were classified into hyperkinetic versus paucikinetic based on their recorded events. Comparison of the 2 populations was performed using Student t test for continuous variables and Fischer exact test for categorical variables. RESULTS Forty-three patients with Epilepsy Monitoring Unit confirmed PNES and 28 caregivers were enrolled. Patients with hyperkinetic events were more commonly non-White patients and necessitated greater caregiving time. Otherwise, no statistically significant differences were seen between the 2 semiologically diverse groups of patients and caregivers in their sociodemographic (age, sex, employment, income, marital, and education) and disease (age of onset, duration, seizures frequency) characteristics, treatment (number of antiseizure medications before diagnosis, side effects) and health care utilization (emergency room visits, hospitalizations, clinic visits), physical (injuries) and psychosocial (depression, anxiety, quality of life, stigma, burden) characteristics, nor in their knowledge about seizures. CONCLUSIONS Hyperkinetic events were more frequently encountered in non-White patients and required more caregiving time. Further research is required to elucidate if phenomenological dichotomy of PNES can inform about their nosological basis, and if it can guide treatment and define prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Daniel L Drane
- Departments of Neurology
- Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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23
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Stager L, Morriss S, McKibben L, Grant M, Szaflarski JP, Fobian AD. Sense of control, selective attention and cognitive inhibition in pediatric functional seizures: A prospective case-control study. Seizure 2022; 98:79-86. [PMID: 35430472 PMCID: PMC9081274 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2022.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To date, laboratory-based experimental behavioral methods have not been used to identify factors associated with pediatric functional seizures (FS), leaving a critical gap for effective treatment development. METHODS Children ages 13-18 with video-EEG-confirmed FS were matched to controls (MCs) based on income, sex, race, and age. A modified Stroop task which included a condition requiring participants to report the ink colors in which seizure symptom words were written (e.g., "shaking" in blue) measured selective attention and cognitive inhibition through response time. The magic and turbulence task assessed sense of control in three conditions (magic, lag, turbulence). Children with FS were asked to report premonitory symptoms predicting FS. RESULTS Participants included 26 children with FS and 26 MCs (Meanage=15.2, 74% female, 59% white). On Stroop, children with FS had a slower reaction time (Mean=1193.83) than MCs (Mean=949.26, p = 0.022) for seizure symptom words. Children with FS had significantly poorer sense of control in the turbulence condition of the magic and turbulence task (Mean=-3.99, SD=8.83) than MCs (Mean=-11.51, SD=7.87; t(20)=-2.61, p =0.017). Children with FS (Mean=-1.80, SD=6.54) also had significantly poorer sense of control in the magic condition than MCs (Mean=-5.57, SD=6.01; p =0.028). Ninety-eight percent of patients endorsed premonitory symptoms. CONCLUSION Compared with MCs, children with FS have (1) poorer selective attention and cognitive inhibition when presented with seizure-related information and (2) lower sense of control (i.e. poorer awareness that their control was manipulated). Premonitory symptoms were common. Sense of control, selective attention, and inhibition may be novel treatment targets for FS intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Stager
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States
| | - Skylar Morriss
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States
| | - Lauren McKibben
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States; Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Merida Grant
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States
| | - Jerzy P Szaflarski
- Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurobiology and the UAB Epilepsy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States
| | - Aaron D Fobian
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States.
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24
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Schneider G, Levin L, Herskovitz M. Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: Are they a freeze reaction? Epilepsy Behav 2022; 129:108655. [PMID: 35299088 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) clinically resemble epileptic seizures (ES) but lack epileptic activity at the time of the seizure and are also not due to any other pathophysiological disorder. The integrative cognitive model (ICM) suggests that PNES is an automatic reaction generated from distorted memory and is perceived as uncontrollable and unwanted. Furthermore, the ICM model implies that a PNES event occurs due to an external or internal cue. Intrigued by this assumption, we wanted to examine why a PNES event occurs at a particular moment by investigating the pre-ictal behavior. This study is a retrospective study. We included all patients diagnosed with PNES or ES admitted to our long-term video-EEG monitoring unit (LTVEM) between 01/01/2018 and 30/08/2020. Using thorough video analysis, we checked the patient's state at the onset of the event and looked back to see what the patient was doing before the event onset. We defined 4 types of pre-ictal behavior A. Inactivity. B. Environment arrangement c. Other. D. No apparent pre-ictal behavior. Thirty patients with PNES and 30 patients with ES were included in the study. In total, 46 PNES events and 56 ES events were recorded and analyzed. In 33 /46 PNES seizures (72%), a type A, A + B or C pre-ictal behavior was observed compared to 1/56 ES (1.78%) with type A pre-ictal behavior. All other pre-ictal behavior in the ES group were of type D. Patients with PNES have a unique pre-ictal behavior before most PNES events with motor manifestations. Since the pre-ictal behavior consists mainly of inactivity, we believe it may imply that PNES represents a freeze reaction or a reconstruction of a freeze reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galit Schneider
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Lera Levin
- Department of Psychology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - Moshe Herskovitz
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; Department of Neurology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
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25
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Functional seizures are associated with cerebrovascular disease and functional stroke is more common in patients with functional seizures than epileptic seizures. Epilepsy Behav 2022; 128:108582. [PMID: 35123242 PMCID: PMC8898282 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2022.108582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To characterize the relationship between functional seizures (FSe), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and functional stroke. METHOD A retrospective case-control study of 189 patients at a single large tertiary medical center. We performed a manual chart review of medical records of patients with FSe or epileptic seizures (ES), who also had ICD code evidence of CVD. The clinical characteristics of FSe, ES, CVD, and functional stroke were recorded. Logistic regression and Welch's t-tests were used to evaluate the differences between the FSe and ES groups. RESULTS Cerebrovascular disease was confirmed in 58.7% and 87.6% of patients with FSe or ES through manual chart review. Stroke was significantly more common in patients with ES (76.29%) than FSe (43.48%) (p = 4.07 × 10-6). However, compared to nonepileptic controls FSe was associated with both CVD (p < 0.0019) and stroke (p < 6.62 × 10-10). Functional stroke was significantly more common in patients with FSe (39.13%) than patients with ES (4.12%) (p = 4.47 × 10-9). Compared to patients with ES, patients with FSe were younger (p = 0.00022), more likely to be female (p = 0.00040), and more likely to have comorbid mental health needs including anxiety (p = 1.06 × 10-6), PTSD or history of trauma (e.g., sexual abuse) (p = 1.06 × 10-13), and bipolar disorder (p = 0.0011). CONCLUSION Our results confirm the initial observation of increased CVD in patients with FSe and further suggest that patients with FSe may be predisposed to developing another functional neurological disorder (FND) (i.e., functional stroke). We speculate that this may be due to shared risk factors and pathophysiological processes that are common to various manifestations of FND.
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26
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Ertan D, Aybek S, LaFrance WC, Kanemoto K, Tarrada A, Maillard L, El-Hage W, Hingray C. Functional (psychogenic non-epileptic/dissociative) seizures: why and how? J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:144-157. [PMID: 34824146 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-326708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Functional seizures (FS) known also as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures or dissociative seizures, present with ictal semiological manifestations, along with various comorbid neurological and psychological disorders. Terminology inconsistencies and discrepancies in nomenclatures of FS may reflect limitations in understanding the neuropsychiatric intricacies of this disorder. Psychological and neurobiological processes of FS are incompletely understood. Nevertheless, important advances have been made on underlying neuropsychopathophysiological mechanisms of FS. These advances provide valuable information about the underlying mechanisms of mind-body interactions. From this perspective, this narrative review summarises recent studies about aetiopathogenesis of FS at two levels: possible risk factors (why) and different aetiopathogenic models of FS (how). We divided possible risk factors for FS into three categories, namely neurobiological, psychological and cognitive risk factors. We also presented different models of FS based on psychological and neuroanatomical understanding, multilevel models and integrative understanding of FS. This work should help professionals to better understand current views on the multifactorial mechanisms involved in the development of FS. Shedding light on the different FS profiles in terms of aetiopathogenesis will help guide how best to direct therapy, based on these different underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Ertan
- CRAN,UMR7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, Vandoeuvre les Nancy, Grand Est, France.,Unité de recherche clinique, Établissement Médical de La Teppe, Tain-l'Hermitage, France
| | - Selma Aybek
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Inselspital Universitatsspital Bern Universitatsklinik fur Neurologie, Bern, Switzerland
| | - W Curt LaFrance
- Psychiatry and Neurology, Brown Medical School Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Kousuke Kanemoto
- Neuropsychiatric Department, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Alexis Tarrada
- Neurology Department, CHRU de Nancy, Nancy, Lorraine, France.,University Psychiatry Department, Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy, Laxou, Lorraine, France
| | - Louis Maillard
- CRAN,UMR7039, Centre de Recherche en Automatique de Nancy, Vandoeuvre les Nancy, Grand Est, France.,Neurology Department, CHRU de Nancy, Nancy, Lorraine, France
| | - Wissam El-Hage
- Department of Psychiatry, CHRU Tours, Tours, Centre, France
| | - Coraline Hingray
- Neurology Department, CHRU de Nancy, Nancy, Lorraine, France .,University Psychiatry Department, Centre Psychothérapique de Nancy, Laxou, Lorraine, France
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27
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von Mücke-Heim IA, Walter I, Nischwitz S, Erhardt A. Combined Fainting and Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures as Significant Therapy Hurdles in Blood-Injury-Injection Phobia: A Mini-Review and Case Report. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:915058. [PMID: 35903630 PMCID: PMC9314666 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.915058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety disorders are the most frequent mental disorders. Among the different subtypes, specific phobias are the commonest. Due to the ongoing SARS-CoV-19 pandemic, blood-injury-injection phobia (BII) has gained wider attention in the context of large-scale vaccination campaigns and public health. In this BII phobia mini-review and case report, we describe the successful treatment of a severe BII phobia case with combined fainting and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) and demonstrate the role of specialized outpatient care. CASE REPORT The patient was a 28-year-old woman. She suffered from intense fear and recurrent fainting with regard to needles, injections, injuries, and at the sight of blood since early childhood. Medical history revealed infrequent events suggestive of PNES following panic attacks after sustained exposure to phobic stimuli. Family history was positive for circulation problems and BII fears. Psychopathological evaluation confirmed BII phobia symptoms and diagnosis was made according to the DSM-5. The Multidimensional Blood/Injury Phobia Inventory short version (MBPI-K) revealed severe manifestation of the disease. Neurological examination was ordinary. Repeated electroencephalography detected no epileptic pattern. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed normal morphology. Treatment was carried out by a seasoned, multidisciplinary team. Cognitive behavior therapy and exposure were performed. Modification of standard treatment protocol was necessary due to hurdles posed by recurrent fainting and a severe panic-triggered dissociative PNES during in vivo exposure. Modification was implemented by limiting in vivo exposure intensity to moderate anxiety levels. In addition to applied muscle tension and ventilation techniques, increased psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, and distress tolerance skills (e.g., ice pack, verbal self-instructions) were used to strengthen the patient's situational control during in vivo exposure. A total of 15 sessions were performed. Therapy success was proven by 83% reduction in MBPI-K rating, SARS-CoV-19 vaccination, and a blood draw without psychological assistance, fainting, or seizure. CONCLUSION Taken together, this case demonstrates the potential of and need for specialized outpatient care and individualized treatment for severe BII phobia patients in order to provide them the perspective to have necessary medical procedures done and get vaccinated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iven-Alex von Mücke-Heim
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Outpatient Clinic, Munich, Germany.,International Max Planck Research School for Translational Psychiatry (IMPRS-TP), Munich, Germany
| | - Isabelle Walter
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Outpatient Clinic, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Nischwitz
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Outpatient Clinic, Munich, Germany
| | - Angelika Erhardt
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Outpatient Clinic, Munich, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Anxiety Research, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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28
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Sharma AA, Szaflarski JP. Neuroinflammation as a pathophysiological factor in the development and maintenance of functional seizures: A hypothesis. Epilepsy Behav Rep 2021; 16:100496. [PMID: 34917920 PMCID: PMC8645839 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebr.2021.100496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-life stress may be a priming neuroinflammatory factor for later development of FS. Secondary trauma has emerged as an important predisposing factor for FS initiation. We propose an explanatory, two-hit hypothesis for FS development. The proposed hypothesis is based on findings from neuroimaging and biomarker studies.
The neurobiological underpinnings of functional seizure (FS) development and maintenance represent an active research area. Recent work has focused on hardware (brain structure) and software (brain function and connectivity). However, understanding whether FS are an adaptive consequence of changes in brain structure, function, and/or connectivity is important for identifying a causative mechanism and for FS treatment and prevention. Further, investigation must also uncover what causes these structural and functional phenomena. Pioneering work in the field of psychoneuroimmunology has established a strong, consistent link between psychopathology, immune dysfunction, and brain structure/function. Based on this and recent FS biomarker findings, we propose a new etiologic model of FS pathophysiology. We hypothesize that early-life stressors cause neuroinflammatory and neuroendocrine changes that prime the brain for later FS development following secondary trauma (e.g., traumatic brain injury or psychological trauma). This framework coalesces existing knowledge regarding brain aberrations underlying FS and established neurobiological theories on the pathophysiology of underlying psychiatric disorders. We also propose brain temperature mapping as a way of indirectly visualizing neuroinflammation in patients with FS, particularly in emotion regulation, fear processing, and sensory-motor integration circuits. We offer a foundation on which future research can be built, with clear recommendations for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayushe A Sharma
- Departments of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.,UAB Epilepsy Center (UABEC), Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Jerzy P Szaflarski
- Departments of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.,Departments of Neurosurgery, and University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.,Departments of Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.,UAB Epilepsy Center (UABEC), Birmingham, AL, USA
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29
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Stager L, Szaflarski JP, Fobian AD. One-year follow-up of treatment outcomes and patient opinions of Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT) for pediatric functional seizures. Epilepsy Behav Rep 2021; 16:100503. [PMID: 34877517 PMCID: PMC8633863 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebr.2021.100503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT), a short-term treatment for pediatric functional seizures (FS), has been demonstrated to improve FS in children compared to supportive therapy. However, long-term maintenance of FS-reduction after ReACT is unclear. This study aims to assess seizure frequency 1 year after ReACT and determine patient and parents' opinions of ReACT. Children with functional seizures who previously completed ReACT and their parents were asked to report 30-day FS frequency 1 year after completing ReACT. They also reported if ReACT was helpful. Paired samples t-tests were used to compare FS frequency before ReACT to 1 year after and to compare FS frequency in 30 days after ReACT to 1 year after. Fourteen children (Meanage = 15.43) and their parents participated. Seven-day FS frequency for patients at 1-year follow-up (Mean = 0.15) was significantly lower than 7-day FS frequency pre-ReACT (Mean = 5.62; p = 0.005). No differences were found when comparing FS frequency during 30 days post-ReACT (Mean = 0.29) and in 30 days before 1-year follow-up (Mean = 0.71). This study confirms long-term maintenance of FS-reduction after ReACT and supports the efficacy of targeting FS directly as opposed to mood or stress for reducing FS. Additionally, children and parents believe ReACT is beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Stager
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Psychology, United States
| | - Jerzy P Szaflarski
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurobiology and the UAB Epilepsy Center, United States
| | - Aaron D Fobian
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, United States
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30
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Revell ER, Gillespie D, Morris PG, Stone J. Drop attacks as a subtype of FND: A cognitive behavioural model using grounded theory. Epilepsy Behav Rep 2021; 16:100491. [PMID: 34746733 PMCID: PMC8550987 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebr.2021.100491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
A grounded theory approach explored idiopathic drop attacks. Our proposed model is consistent with current cognitive behavioural models of FND. A main precipitating factor of a fall related to another cause was identified. External triggers, anxiety, rumination and dissociation are maintaining factors. For many, idiopathic drop attacks may be best understood as a form of FND.
Idiopathic drop attacks are falls to the floor, without warning, and without loss of consciousness, for which the cause is uncertain. They are poorly studied but recent research suggests that many idiopathic drop attacks may be usefully considered within the spectrum of functional neurological disorder (FND). The aim of this study was to test a cognitive behavioural model of idiopathic drop attacks, in order to inform formulation and treatment. Interviews and diaries were completed by seven individuals experiencing drop attacks, and were analysed using a grounded theory qualitative data approach. Through the coding and synthesis of data into themes, a proposed cognitive behavioural model was identified, with a main precipitating event in all cases being a fall related to another cause, such as a mechanical fall or a fall due to medical reasons. Additional precipitating factors identified included situational triggers, high levels of stress, and dissociation. A maintaining cycle of thoughts, emotion and behaviour is outlined. Our proposed theory is consistent with current cognitive behavioural models of FND. A cognitive behavioural understanding of drop attacks when considered part of FND aids formulation in clinical practice, and suggests that cognitive behavioural therapy interventions for FND may also be applicable in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Revell
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK.,Clinical and Health Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
| | - David Gillespie
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK
| | - Paul G Morris
- Clinical and Health Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
| | - Jon Stone
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK
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Sawant NS, Umate MS. Dissociation, Stressors, and Coping in Patients of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures. Indian J Psychol Med 2021; 43:479-484. [PMID: 35210675 PMCID: PMC8826194 DOI: 10.1177/0253717620956460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) commonly present both to neurologists and psychiatrists and include a wide range of psychopathology. In order to understand the demographics, dissociative experiences, stressful life events, abuse, and coping in these patients, this study was undertaken. METHODS This was a cross-sectional, observational study. A total of 71 patients of PNES, referred from neurology, were assessed on Dissociative Experience Scale (DES), Scale For Trauma and Abuse, Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale (PSLES), and Ways of Coping Questionnaire to ascertain the dissociative experiences; the prevalence of trauma, abuse, and stressful life events, and the coping mechanisms. RESULTS Females predominated, with the duration of PNES up to 2 years. The mean ± SD total DES score was 38.14 ± 14.1, indicating high dissociation. On the PSLES, for the stressful life events in the last one year, the mean score was 98.28 ± 87.1. Marital and family conflicts and death were reported more. History of childhood or adult physical and sexual abuse was less reported. History of head trauma was present in 13 patients. Emotion-focused coping was used more than problem-solving strategies. CONCLUSIONS Very few Indian studies have looked into these nuances. This study has helped in improving the understanding of the various risk factors of PNES and the coping strategies, and in sensitizing psychiatrists and neurologists to enquire into trauma and abuse of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neena S Sawant
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Seth GSMC & KEM Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Maithili S Umate
- Dept. of Psychiatry, Grant Govt Medical College and Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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Wardrope A, Dworetzky BA, Barkley GL, Baslet G, Buchhalter J, Doss J, Goldstein LH, Hallett M, Kozlowska K, LaFrance WC, McGonigal A, Mildon B, Oto M, Perez DL, Riker E, Roberts NA, Stone J, Tolchin B, Reuber M. How to do things with words Two seminars on the naming of functional (psychogenic, non-epileptic, dissociative, conversion, …) seizures. Seizure 2021; 93:102-110. [PMID: 34740139 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2021.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Amongst the most important conditions in the differential diagnosis of epilepsy is the one that manifests as paroxysms of altered behaviour, awareness, sensation or sense of bodily control in ways that often resemble epileptic seizures, but without the abnormal excessive or synchronous electrical activity in the brain that defines these. Despite this importance, there remains little agreement - and frequent debate - on what to call this condition, known inter alia as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), dissociative seizures (DS), functional seizures (FS), non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD), pseudoseizures, conversion disorder with seizures, and by many other labels besides. This choice of terminology is not merely academic - it affects patients' response to and understanding of their diagnosis, and their ability to navigate health care systems.This paper summarises two recent discussions hosted by the American Epilepsy Society and Functional Neurological Disorders Society on the naming of this condition. These discussions are conceptualised as the initial step of an exploration of whether it might be possible to build consensus for a new diagnostic label.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair Wardrope
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Department of Clinical Neurology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
| | - Barbara A Dworetzky
- The Edward B. Bromfield Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Gregory L Barkley
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI, United States; Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Gaston Baslet
- Center for Brain/Mind Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jeffrey Buchhalter
- Section of Pediatric Neurology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Julia Doss
- Doss Clinic of Health Psychology, Minneapolis, MN, United States; Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Laura H Goldstein
- King's College London Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Hallett
- Human Motor Control Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Kasia Kozlowska
- Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia; Discipline of Psychiatry and Discipline of Child & Adolescent Health, University of Sydney Medical School, Sydney, Australia; Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - W Curt LaFrance
- Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States; Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Aileen McGonigal
- Aix Marseille Univ, Inserm, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Marseille, France; APHM, Timone Hospital, Clinical Neurophysiology, Marseille, France
| | | | - Maria Oto
- Scottish Epilepsy Centre, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - David L Perez
- Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ellen Riker
- National Association of Epilepsy Centers, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Nicole A Roberts
- School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Jon Stone
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Tolchin
- Yale New Haven Health System Center for Bioethics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Markus Reuber
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Department of Clinical Neurology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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Hamouda K, Senf-Beckenbach PA, Gerhardt C, Irorutola F, Rose M, Hinkelmann K. Executive Functions and Attention in Patients With Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures Compared With Healthy Controls: A Cross-Sectional Study. Psychosom Med 2021; 83:880-886. [PMID: 34292202 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs) are considered functional neurological symptoms and are highly prevalent in specialized epilepsy clinics. The underlying mechanisms of PNES are not fully understood. Recent findings point toward possible alterations in attention and executive functions. This study aimed to extend the current knowledge of attention and executive function in patients with PNES and to assess possible relationships between seizures and dissociation, childhood trauma, and cognitive function. METHODS We recruited 40 patients with PNES and 40 sex-, age-, and education-matched healthy controls (HCs) in this study. Participants completed self-report questionnaires to assess early life stress (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire [CTQ]), dissociation (the German version of the Dissociative Experience Scale, or Fragebogen zu dissoziativen Symptomen), and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9). Executive functions and attention were assessed with the Trail Making Test (TMT), Digit Span, and Attention Network Task. RESULTS Compared with HCs, patients with PNES reported significantly higher levels of childhood trauma, depression, and dissociation. Patients with PNES also had reduced performance indices for Digit Span Forward (d = 0.62), Digit Span Backward (d = 0.62), and TMT (d = 0.67) but not Attention Network Task. CTQ scores positively correlated with TMT and Digit Span Backward performance in patients with PNES. Adjusting for CTQ scores attenuated the observed group difference in TMT performance. Depression and dissociation did not explain the observed findings. CONCLUSIONS These results contribute to the evidence of impaired executive functions in patients with PNES. Furthermore, childhood trauma scores, but not (trait) dissociation or depression scores, seem to drive group differences (HC versus patients with PNES).
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Hamouda
- From the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin; and Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Center of Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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Identifying and evaluating novel treatment targets for the development of evidence-based interventions for functional neurological disorder. Epilepsy Behav Rep 2021; 16:100479. [PMID: 34568805 PMCID: PMC8449163 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebr.2021.100479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Historically, functional neurological disorder (FND) has been described in psychodynamic terms as the physical manifestation of psychological distress. It is often explained to patients and caregivers as the result of anxiety, stress, trauma or other psychiatric comorbidities. However, recent evidence indicates that targeting mood and stress is not equivalent to the treatment of FND and may have limited to no effect on FND symptoms. Given the few randomized controlled trials for FND treatments and the limited evidence of mood and stress as effective treatment targets, the identification and evaluation of novel treatment targets or mediators is an area of great opportunity and should be the focus of future research. Identifying and targeting modifiable disease mechanisms directly as opposed to only treating psychiatric comorbidities may result in greater efficacy in treating FND symptoms, better patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs. Several novel mechanisms have been identified that warrant additional investigation as potential treatment targets including abnormal attentional focus on the affected area, beliefs and expectations about illness, impairments in habituation, and decreased sense of control over actions. Future intervention studies should take a mechanism-based approach and utilize valid and reliable measures or specific biomarkers to determine whether improvements in FND symptoms are associated with changes in the treatment targets. This transdiagnostic approach will allow researchers to translate the novel mechanistic outcomes emerging from neurophysiological and neuroscience studies into new or improved evidence-based approaches to FND treatment and prevention.
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Mameniškienė R, Puteikis K, Carrizosa-Moog J. Neurology specialists’ visual interpretation of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: Contemplating their etiology and existing challenges. Seizure 2021; 90:175-181. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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McGonigal A, Bartolomei F, Chauvel P. On seizure semiology. Epilepsia 2021; 62:2019-2035. [PMID: 34247399 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The clinical expression of seizures represents the main symptomatic burden of epilepsy. Neural mechanisms of semiologic production in epilepsy, especially for complex behaviors, remain poorly known. In a framework of epilepsy as a network rather than as a focal disorder, we can think of semiology as being dynamically produced by a set of interconnected structures, in which specific rhythmic interactions, and not just anatomical localization, are likely to play an important part in clinical expression. This requires a paradigm shift in how we think about seizure organization, including from a presurgical evaluation perspective. Semiology is a key data source, albeit with significant methodological challenges for its use in research, including observer bias and choice of semiologic categories. Better understanding of semiologic categorization and pathophysiological correlates is relevant to seizure classification systems. Advances in knowledge of neural mechanisms as well as anatomic correlates of different semiologic patterns could help improve knowledge of epilepsy networks and potentially contribute to therapeutic innovations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen McGonigal
- Inserm, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.,Clinical Neurophysiology, APHM, Timone Hospital, Marseille, France
| | - Fabrice Bartolomei
- Inserm, INS, Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France.,Clinical Neurophysiology, APHM, Timone Hospital, Marseille, France
| | - Patrick Chauvel
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Baroni G, Martins WA, Rodrigues JC, Piccinini V, Marin C, de Lara Machado W, Bandeira DR, Paglioli E, Valente KD, Palmini A. A novel scale for suspicion of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: development and accuracy. Seizure 2021; 89:65-72. [PMID: 34020344 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2021.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The differential diagnosis between epileptic and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) is challenging, yet suspicion of PNES is crucial to rethink treatment strategies and select patients for diagnostic confirmation through video EEG (VEEG). We developed a novel scale to prospectively suspect PNES. METHODS First, we developed a 51-item scale in two steps, based upon literature review and panel expert opinion. A pilot study verified the applicability of the instrument, followed by a prospective evaluation of 158 patients (66.5% women, mean age 33 years) who were diagnosed for prolonged VEEG. Only epileptic seizures were recorded in 103 patients, and the other 55 had either isolated PNES or both types of seizures. Statistical procedures identified 15 items scored between 0 and 3 that best discriminated patients with and without PNES, with a high degree of consistency. RESULTS Internal consistency reliability of the scale for suspicion of PNES was 0.77 with Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient and 0.95 with Rasch Item Reliability Index, and performance did not differ according to the patient's gender. For a cut-off score of 20 (of 45) points, area under the curve was 0.92 (95% IC: 0.87-0.96), with an accuracy of 87%, sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 85%, positive predictive value of 77%, and negative predictive value of 94% (95% IC) for a diagnosis of PNES. CONCLUSIONS The scale for suspicion of PNES (SS-PNES) has high accuracy to a reliable suspicion of PNES, helping with the interpretation of apparent seizure refractoriness, reframing treatment strategies, and streamlining referral for prolonged VEEG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gislaine Baroni
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Epilepsy Surgery Program, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - William Alves Martins
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Epilepsy Surgery Program, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Jaqueline C Rodrigues
- Assistant Professor, Psychology Program, Universidade do Vale dos Sinos (UNISINOS), São Leopoldo, Brazil.
| | - Vitória Piccinini
- Epilepsy Surgery Program, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Cássia Marin
- Epilepsy Surgery Program, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Wagner de Lara Machado
- Graduate Program in Psychology, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Denise R Bandeira
- Graduate Program in Psychology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Eliseu Paglioli
- Epilepsy Surgery Program, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Neurosciences and Surgical Departments, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
| | - Kette D Valente
- Institute and Department of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP).
| | - André Palmini
- Graduate Program in Medicine and Health Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Epilepsy Surgery Program, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil; Neurosciences and Surgical Departments, School of Medicine, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Abstract
SUMMARY Around 50 years after the first EEG acquisition by Hans Berger, its use in ambulatory setting was demonstrated. Ever since, ambulatory EEG has been widely available and routinely used in the United States (and to a lesser extent in Europe) for diagnosis and management of patients with epilepsy. This technology alone cannot help with semiological characterization, and absence of video is one of its main drawbacks. Addition of video to ambulatory EEG potentially improves diagnostic yield and opens new aspects of utility for better characterization of patient's events, including differential diagnosis, classification, and quantification of seizure burden. Studies evaluating quality of ambulatory video EEG (aVEEG) suggest good quality recordings are feasible. In the utilization of aVEEG, to maximize yield, it is important to consider pretest probability. Having clear pretest questions and a strong index of suspicion for focal, generalized convulsive or non-epileptic seizures further increases the usefulness of aVEEG. In this article, which is part of the topical issue "Ambulatory EEG," the authors compare long-term home aVEEG to inpatient video EEG monitoring, discuss aVEEG's use in diagnosis and follow-up of patients, and present the authors' own experience of the utility of aVEEG in a teaching hospital setting.
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Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures in Children and Adolescents. Indian Pediatr 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13312-021-2167-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Garg D, Agarwal A, Malhotra V, Thacker AK, Singh AK, Singh MB, Srivastava AK. Classification and comparative analysis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) semiology based on video-electroencephalography (VEEG). Epilepsy Behav 2021; 115:107697. [PMID: 33383482 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple classification systems for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) based on semiological features have been described. We sought to compare the efficiency of four PNES classification systems. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed medical and video-electroencephalography (VEEG) records of patients with PNES with at least one typical event recorded on VEEG. Semiology of PNES events was stringently classified using Hubsch, Dhiman, Wadwekar, and Asadi-Pooya's classification systems. RESULTS We studied 248 patients with PNES (78% females, mean age 23.1 ± 10.3 years) and reviewed 498 PNES events. Using Hubsch's scheme, we classified events into: dystonic attacks with primitive gestural activity (5.2%), paucikinetic attacks with preserved responsiveness (9.7%), pseudosyncope (59.8%), hyperkinetic prolonged attacks (16.2%) and axial dystonic prolonged attacks (1.6%), and unclassified (7.5%). Using Dhiman's classification, events were: abnormal motor (hypermotor [10.4%]/ partial motor [12.7%]), dialeptic type (58.6%), mixed patterns (17.3%), and unclassified (1%). Using Wadwekar's classification: dystonic attacks with primitive gestural activity (5.2%), paucikinetic attacks with preserved responsiveness (9.6%), pseudosyncope with/without hyperventilation (65.1%), hyperkinetic prolonged attacks involving limbs ± trunk (18.5%), and axial dystonic prolonged attacks (1.6%). Using Asadi-Pooya's classification, events were: hypermotor (30.1%), non-motor (62.9%), and mixed (7.0%). All events could be classified via Wadwekar and Asadi-Pooya systems. CONCLUSION In our study, pseudosyncope/dialeptic/non-motor semiology emerged as most frequent. Most of our patients with PNES had stereotyped semiology. All events could be classified using the schemes by Asadi-Pooya and Wadweker et al. Dhiman et al. scheme could classify 99% and 7.5% remained unclassified using Hubsch et al. scheme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divyani Garg
- Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Ayush Agarwal
- Department of Neurology, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Varun Malhotra
- Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Anup Kumar Thacker
- Department of Neurology, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Ajai Kumar Singh
- Department of Neurology, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India
| | - Mamta Bhushan Singh
- Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Differentiating psychogenic nonepileptic seizures from epileptic seizures: An observational study of patients undergoing video-electroencephalography (VEEG) in Australia. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 114:107542. [PMID: 33234456 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Video-electroencephalography (VEEG) is an invaluable tool for the differentiation of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) from epileptic seizures (ES). This paper (i) evaluates the demographics of patients undergoing VEEGs at the Princess Alexandra Hospital from July 1 2017 to July 1 2019 and identifies those subsequently diagnosed with PNES, (ii) determines the delay in PNES diagnosis and proportion of PNES patients on antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) prior to a VEEG, and (iii) determines the proportion of PNES patients who subsequently ceased their AEDs. Of the 94 patients in the study group, 51 were female and 43 were male. In total, 22 (23%) of VEEGs were consistent with epilepsy (ES), 25 (26%), with PNES, 5 (5%) mixed (PNES and ES), 5 (5%) with other types of events, and 37 were nondiagnostic. Two patients with non-diagnostic VEEGs were subsequently treated as PNES at the treating clinician's discretion. Regarding AEDs, 62 of the patients were on at least one agent at the time of VEEG recording. The mean durations of AED therapy and diagnostic delay for patients subsequently diagnosed with PNES were six years and seven years, respectively. Of these, the majority had their AEDs subsequently weaned/ceased. This study highlights the value of VEEG in diagnostic differentiation of epileptic from nonepileptic events, thereby preventing unnecessary AED therapy for patients with PNES. The results are consistent with previous studies in the literature evaluating VEEG clinical outcomes.
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Wei D, Garlinghouse M, Li W, Swingle N, Samson KK, Taraschenko O. Association between kinetic semiology of psychogenic nonepileptic spells and seizure type in dual disorder. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 114:107597. [PMID: 33246895 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Epilepsy is diagnosed in 20% of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic spells (PNES). The semiology of PNES and epileptic seizures (ES) overlaps in some patients. It is unclear whether the motor phenotype of PNES predicts the type of ES. METHODS Video segments of EEGs in patients with PNES and ES treated in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center were reviewed. Videos were categorized according to the validated motor-based classification of PNES. Ratings of kinetic PNES events were analyzed to determine if there was an association with focal or generalized ES. If available, the video segments of ES were categorized as hypokinetic or hyperkinetic based on the constellation of focal or generalized movements and other semiological features. RESULTS Among 43 patients with documented PNES-ES (median age 34, interquartile range (IQR) 26-45), 27.9% were male. The largest proportion of patients (39.5%) had focal temporal epilepsy (TE). Other diagnostic groups included focal frontal (FE, 25.6%), generalized (GE, 25.6%), or other (9.3%) epilepsies. Thirty-three PNES patients (82.5%) were rated as having a hypokinetic phenotype. On average, hypokinetic PNES patients were receiving a median of 3 (IQR 2-4) anticonvulsants, compared to a median of 2 (IQR 2-3) in hyperkinetic PNES patients (p = 0.06). While the group with coexisting FE had a higher prevalence of hyperkinetic semiology (45.4%) than either the TE (11.7%) or GE (18.1%) patients, there was no significant association between the ES type and kinetic status of PNES. Among 20 patients who had video recordings of both PNES and ES, 40% displayed the concordant hypokinetic phenotypes for PNES and seizures while 15% had hyperkinetic presentation of both event types. Among additional 16 patients with scalp EEG-negative suspected nonepileptic events and documented ES, 6 had the recordings of seizures and 3 have presented with concordant hypokinetic PNES and ES. CONCLUSION In patients with PNES and ES, the hypokinetic semiology of PNES prevails over hyperkinetic semiology in TE and GE syndromes. The motor status of PNES does not predict the phenotype of coexisting ES. The concordant kinetic semiology is present in more than half of the patients with dual diagnosis and available video data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danmeng Wei
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Matthew Garlinghouse
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Wenyang Li
- Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Nicholas Swingle
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Kaeli K Samson
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Olga Taraschenko
- Department of Neurological Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.
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Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in children - psychophysiology & dissociative characteristics. Psychiatry Res 2020; 294:113544. [PMID: 33161178 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine psychophysiology and dissociative characteristics of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) in a clinical pediatric setting. A retrospective chart review was conducted over a 5-year period that included children meeting criteria for probable, clinically established or documented PNES. Of these, 33 patients (81%) underwent psychophysiology assessment as part of standardized care and were selected for study inclusion. Ages ranged from 10 to 17 years inclusive (70% female). The majority of patients were found to have some form of autonomic decompensation at baseline (82%) and lack of autonomic recovery from a cognitive stressor (58%). Inhibition of electrodermal skin response to laboratory stressor was associated with significantly longer duration of PNES illness (t=2.65, p=.013), while elevated heart rate (above 90th percentile) was associated with significantly higher frequency of PNES events in the month preceding diagnosis (t=3.1, p=.004). High levels of dissociation and hyperventilation symptoms were self-reported by adolescent patients (n=19) with a moderate degree of positive association (r=0.35, p=.038). The majority of patients (n= 25, 89%) were taught to correct respiratory CO2 levels during a single biofeedback training session. Conclusions: Child PNES populations appear to be characterized by chronic autonomic hyperarousal reflecting severity of their symptoms, which can feasibly be targeted for behavioral treatment.
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Hansen AS, Rask CU, Rodrigo-Domingo M, Pristed SG, Christensen J, Nielsen RE. Incidence rates and characteristics of pediatric onset psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Pediatr Res 2020; 88:796-803. [PMID: 32392575 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-0945-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric onset psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) is a highly disabling disorder and potentially misdiagnosed as epilepsy. Still, knowledge regarding PNES in children and adolescents is limited and data on both incidence and characteristics are scarce. This study investigated the incidence rate (IR) and clinical characteristics of pediatric onset PNES, including possible differences when having comorbid epilepsy. METHODS A population-based study of children and adolescents aged 5-17 years with an incident diagnosis of PNES in the Danish healthcare registries between 1996 and 2014. In total, 386 children and adolescents were included after assessment of diagnostic validity using medical record data. RESULTS The IR increased during the study period with the maximum IR observed in 2014 (7.4 per 100,000 person-years). A history of both neurologic and psychiatric problems as well as negative life events was identified. Comorbid epilepsy was confirmed for 55 cases (14.2%) and was associated with intellectual disabilities, school support and prolonged delay in PNES diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS PNES are increasingly diagnosed in children and adolescents, and the clinical profile of both neurologic and psychiatric health problems underscores the need for collaborative pediatric and mental healthcare. These findings provide important information for future healthcare planning in this area. IMPACT This nationwide study is the first to report population-based incidence rates of pediatric onset PNES documenting markedly increasing incidence rates between 1996 and 2014. A history of both neurologic and psychiatric problems as well as negative life events was identified for pediatric onset PNES. Comorbid epileptic seizures were associated with intellectual disabilities, school support and prolonged delay in PNES diagnosis. The clinical profile of both neurologic and psychiatric health problems underscores the need for collaborative pediatric and mental healthcare. The increasing number of children and adolescents diagnosed with PNES is important information for future healthcare planning in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne S Hansen
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. .,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark.
| | - Charlotte U Rask
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Research Unit, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Maria Rodrigo-Domingo
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Sofie G Pristed
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jakob Christensen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Neurology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - René E Nielsen
- Unit for Psychiatric Research, Psychiatry, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Jones A, O'Connell N, David AS, Chalder T. Functional Stroke Symptoms: A Narrative Review and Conceptual Model. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 2020; 32:14-23. [PMID: 31726918 DOI: 10.1176/appi.neuropsych.19030075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Stroke services have been reconfigured in recent years to facilitate early intervention. Throughout stroke settings, some patients present with functional symptoms that cannot be attributed to a structural cause. Emphasis on fast diagnosis and treatment means that a proportion of patients entering the care pathway present with functional symptoms that mimic stroke or have functional symptoms in addition to vascular stroke. There is limited understanding of mechanisms underlying functional stroke symptoms, how the treatment of such patients should be managed, and no referral pathway or treatment. Predisposing factors vary between individuals, and symptoms are heterogeneous: onset can be acute or insidious, and duration can be short-lived or chronic in the context of new or recurrent illness cognitions and behaviors. This article proposes a conceptual model of functional symptoms identified in stroke services and some hypotheses based on a narrative review of the functional neurological disorder literature. Predisposing factors may include illness experiences, stressors, and chronic autonomic nervous system arousal. Following the onset of distressing symptoms, perpetuating factors may include implicit cognitive processes, classical and operant conditioning, illness beliefs, and behavioral responses, which could form the basis of treatment targets. The proposed model will inform the development of theory-based interventions as well as a functional stroke care pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbeygail Jones
- The Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London (Jones, Chalder); the Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin (O'Connell); and the Institute of Mental Health, University College London (David)
| | - Nicola O'Connell
- The Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London (Jones, Chalder); the Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin (O'Connell); and the Institute of Mental Health, University College London (David)
| | - Anthony S David
- The Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London (Jones, Chalder); the Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin (O'Connell); and the Institute of Mental Health, University College London (David)
| | - Trudie Chalder
- The Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London (Jones, Chalder); the Institute of Population Health, Trinity College Dublin (O'Connell); and the Institute of Mental Health, University College London (David)
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Irorutola F, Gerhardt C, Hamouda K, Rose M, Hinkelmann K, Senf-Beckenbach P. Emotional and cognitive empathy in patients with non-epileptic seizures. Seizure 2020; 81:280-286. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2020.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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Osman AH, Alsharief SM, Siddig HE. Functional neurological disorder: Characteristics and outcome in a limited-resources country (Sudan). Epilepsy Behav 2020; 111:107151. [PMID: 32698104 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a scarcity of reports from limited-resources countries on functional neurological disorder (FND). We therefore carried out this descriptive study from Sudan to highlight the clinical characteristics of patients and the cultural, diagnostic, and management outcome. METHOD Of 1000 new referrals and patients seen at a central neuropsychiatric clinic in Khartoum, Sudan, 40 fulfilled the criteria for FND. Subjects were diagnosed by excluding organic illness and confirming psychological distress through neuropsychological assessment and clinical interview. Mood was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scales. RESULTS Young unemployed women constituted 60% of our sample. Most subjects presented with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (82.5%), speech abnormalities (47.5%), and limb paralysis or weakness was (35%). Associated mood disorder was found in 97.5% of all subjects. However, 95% of our sample showed a remarkable clinical response to combination therapy (antidepressants and psychotherapy). SIGNIFICANCE Patients with FND showed strong evidence of comorbid affective disorders in the form of depression and anxiety disorder. Most patients (95%) responded well to combination therapy with antidepressants and psychotherapy. Sociodemographic correlates of FND in Sudan prove to be consistent with features found in Western cultures, with only minor idiosyncratic characteristics due to local culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelgadir H Osman
- Psychiatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 102, Khartoum, Sudan.
| | - Sabah M Alsharief
- Psychiatric Training Scheme Khartoum, Sudan Medical Council, Estibalia Street, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Hassab Elrasoul Siddig
- Neurology and Neuroscience Association, Alnileen Medical Centre, Alsharief Alhindi Street, Khartoum, Sudan
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Fobian AD, Long DM, Szaflarski JP. Retraining and control therapy for pediatric psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:1410-1419. [PMID: 32748572 PMCID: PMC7448150 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Our aim was to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial of a novel cognitive behaviorally based intervention for pediatric PNES called Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT). Methods Participants were randomized to receive either eight sessions of ReACT or supportive therapy, and participants completed follow‐up visits at 7‐ and 60‐days posttreatment. The primary outcome measure was PNES frequency at 7‐days posttreatment. Eligibility criteria included children with video‐EEG confirmed PNES and participant/parent or guardian willingness to participate in treatment. Exclusion criteria included substance use, psychosis, and severe intellectual disability. Forty‐two patients were assessed for eligibility and 32 were randomized. ReACT aimed to retrain classically conditioned, involuntary PNES by targeting catastrophic symptom expectations and a low sense of control over symptoms using principles of habit reversal. Supportive therapy was based on the assumption that relief from stress or problems can be achieved by discussion with a therapist. Results Twenty‐nine participants (Mage = 15.1 years, SDage = 2.5; 72.2% female; 57.1% Caucasian, 28.6% African American) completed 7‐days postprocedures. For PNES frequency, the Wilcoxon Rank Sum test statistic was 273.5 yielding a normal approximation of Z = 4.725 (P < 0.0001), indicating a significant improvement in PNES frequency for ReACT at 7‐days posttreatment compared to supportive therapy. Participants with PNES in the 7‐days posttreatment were removed from the study for additional treatment, resulting in no 60‐day follow‐up data for supportive therapy. Interpretation ReACT resulted in significantly greater PNES reduction than supportive therapy, with 100% of patients experiencing no PNES in 7 days after ReACT. Additionally, 82% remained PNES‐free for 60 days after ReACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron D Fobian
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Dustin M Long
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Jerzy P Szaflarski
- Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neurobiology, The UAB Epilepsy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Alabama
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D'Souza RS, Vogt MNP, Rho EH. Post-operative functional neurological symptom disorder after anesthesia. Bosn J Basic Med Sci 2020; 20:381-388. [PMID: 32070267 PMCID: PMC7416177 DOI: 10.17305/bjbms.2020.4646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A rare manifestation during the post-anesthetic period may include the occurrence of functional neurological symptom disorder (FNSD). FNSD is described as neurological symptoms that are not consistently explained by neurological or medical conditions. We report a case series consisting of six patients who underwent a general anesthetic at a tertiary referral hospital and experienced FNSD in the immediate post-anesthetic period. Life-threatening causes were excluded based on benign physical exam findings and knowledge of past history. Five of six cases manifested with FNSD only in the immediate post-operative setting after exposure to anesthesia, and never otherwise experienced these symptoms during their normal daily lives. MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched through October 2019 using a highly-sensitive search strategy and identified 38 published cases of post-anesthetic FNSD. Meta-analysis of pooled clinical data revealed that a significant proportion of patients were females (86%), reported a history of psychiatric illness (49%), reported a prior history of FNSD (53%), and underwent general anesthesia as the primary anesthetic (93%). The majority of patients were exposed to diagnostic studies (66% received radiographic tests and 52% received electroencephalogram) as well as pharmacologic therapy (57%). While no deaths occurred, many patients had unanticipated admission to the hospital (53%) or to the intensive care unit (25%). These data may help inform the anesthesia literature on presentation, risk factors, and treatment outcomes of FNSD in the context of anesthetic administration. We contemplate whether anesthetic agents may predispose a vulnerable brain to manifest with involuntary motor and sensory control seen in FNSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S D'Souza
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Matthew N P Vogt
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Edwin H Rho
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder in Children and Adolescents within Medical Settings. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2020; 28:90-101. [DOI: 10.1007/s10880-020-09736-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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