The frequency and management of seizures during psychological treatment among patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and epilepsy

Functional seizure semiology and classification in a public and private hospital

PURPOSE

Our understanding of potential differences in seizure semiology among patients with functional seizures (FS), also known as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), across socioeconomic contexts is currently limited. By examining the differences in seizure manifestations between different socioeconomic groups, we aim to enhance the understanding of how socioeconomic factors may influence FS presentation. This study aimed to describe FS semiology in patients from a private and public epilepsy monitoring units (EMUs) in Cape Town, South Africa.

METHODS

The study included patients with FS confirmed through video-electroencephalography (video-EEG) and without comorbid epilepsy. For this retrospective case-control study, data on seizure semiology was gathered from digital patient records, beginning with the earliest available record for each hospital.

RESULTS

A total of 305 patients from a private hospital and 67 patients from a public hospital were eligible for the study (N = 372). The private hospital tended to report more akinetic and subjective seizure types when compared to the public hospital. Additionally, patients at the public hospital had higher odds of reporting emotional seizure triggers (aOR=2.57, 95% CI [1.03, 6.37]), loss of consciousness or awareness (aOR=2.58, 95% CI [1.07, 6.24]), and rapid post-event recovery (aOR=6.01, 95% CI [2.52, 14.34]). At the same time, they were less likely to report both short (<30 s) (aOR=0.21, 95% CI [0.08, 0.55]) and long (>5 min) seizures (aOR=0.73, 95% CI [0.13, 0.56]), amnesia for the event (aOR=0.19, 95% CI [0.09, 0.43]), ictal aphasia (aOR=0.33, 95% CI [0.14, 0.76]) or falls and drop attacks (aOR=0.43, 95% CI [0.18, 0.996]), when compared to the private hospital patients.

CONCLUSION

While the seizure manifestations were largely consistent across the two socioeconomic cohorts of patients with FS, some subtle differences were observed and warrant further investigation.

Prevalence of ictal injuries in functional (psychogenic nonepileptic) seizures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Ictal injuries have long been considered typical signs of epileptic seizures. However, studies have shown that patients with functional seizures (FS)-also named psychogenic nonepileptic seizures-can also present these signs, misleading physicians and delaying a correct diagnosis. This systematic review aimed to assess the prevalence of injuries from FS.

METHODS

A literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature), Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, OpenGrey, and ProQuest. Observational studies were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist for studies reporting prevalence data. RStudio was used for meta-analyses. Cumulative evidence was evaluated according to Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria.

RESULTS

From the 2607 identified records, 41 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis, and 28 were included in meta-analyses. A meta-analysis of 13 studies, including 1673 individuals, resulted in an overall lifetime prevalence of injuries due to FS per person of 25% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 19%-32%, I2  = 88%). Considering a limited period (video-electroencephalographic [VEEG] monitoring days), a meta-analysis of 13 studies, including 848 individuals, resulted in an injury prevalence due to FS per person of .7% (95% CI = 0%-3%, I2  = 73%). Also, a meta-analysis of eight studies, including 1000 individuals, resulted in a prevalence of injuries per FS of .1% (95% CI = 0%-.98%, I2  = 49%). The certainty in cumulative evidence assessed by GRADE was rated "very low" for lifetime prevalence of injuries per person, "low" for prevalence per person during VEEG monitoring, and "moderate" for prevalence per number of FS.

SIGNIFICANCE

Overall pooled lifetime prevalence of injuries due to FS per person was 25%. In comparison, the prevalence of injuries per person during VEEG monitoring and per functional seizure was .7% and .1%, respectively. [Correction added on 07 October 2023, after first online publication: In the preceding sentence, 'consecutively' was corrected to 'respectively'.] The evidence of the occurrence of injuries due to FS breaks the paradigm that epileptic seizures can cause injuries but FS cannot.

The regulation of driving with non-epileptic seizures must be made clearer

Patients with epilepsy have their authorisation to drive restricted under detailed guidelines, but the rules for those with non-epileptic seizures are far less clear. We surveyed specialist clinicians in Australia and found little agreement as to whether such guidelines existed for non-epileptic seizures or what they might be. A number of possible interpretations of the Australian fitness to drive guidelines are explored, and these are often vague in themselves, as well as uncertain in their scope. This means clinicians making momentous driving decisions for their patients with non-epileptic seizures are doubly challenged, first in interpreting what guidelines exist, and second in what they mean. The International League Against Epilepsy proposed specific guidelines for driving with non-epileptic seizures, which reflect the range of presentations of non-epileptic seizures in a decision-making algorithm. We believe a specific algorithm such as this is essential in removing one level of uncertainty and responsibility for clinicians, and restoring equity for patients with non-epileptic seizures.

Shame in the treatment of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: The elephant in the room

Previous research has established a link between psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (also known as dissociative or functional seizures) and abnormal emotion processing. In a companion article to this multidisciplinary narrative review, we have argued that, in the context of a biopsychosocial understanding of the condition, the emotion of shame is particularly likely to contribute to the aetiology, manifestation, semiology and perpetuation of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Here we demonstrate how unrecognised and unaddressed shame may cause difficulties when clinicians explain the diagnosis, attempt to engage patients in psychological treatment, construct a diagnostic formulation and undertake psychotherapy. Case vignettes are used to bring theoretical considerations to life and to illustrate the complex interactions which may be observed between high shame proneness, chronic and dysregulated shame, stigma and PNES. The particular focus on shame does not mean that recent explanatory models of PNES are obsolete. Rather, we demonstrate how the inclusion of shame helps to embed the emotional, cognitive and behavioural aspects of the Integrative Cognitive Model (ICM) of PNES in a social / interpersonal context. While we describe how a number of different psychotherapeutic approaches can help to address shame-related processes we conclude that specific modalities are less important than the eventual enhancement of emotional literacy and tolerance through a healing relationship with the psychotherapist.

Shame in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizure: A narrative review

Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES) have been linked to dysregulated emotions and arousal. However, the question which emotions may be most relevant has received much less attention. In this multidisciplinary narrative review, we argue that the self-conscious emotion of shame is likely to be of particular importance for PNES. We summarize current concepts of the development of shame processing and its relationship with other emotional states. We demonstrate the potential of acute shame to cause a sudden disruption of normal cognitive function and trigger powerful behavioral, cognitive, physiological and secondary emotional responses which closely resemble key components of PNES. These responses may lead to the development of shame avoidance strategies which can become disabling in themselves. We discuss how excessive shame proneness and shame dysregulation are linked to several psychopathologies often associated with PNES (including depression and PTSD) and how they may predispose to, precipitate and perpetuate PNES disorders, not least by interacting with stigma. We consider current knowledge of the neurobiological underpinnings of shame and PNES. We explore how shame could be the link between PNES and a heterogeneous range of possible etiological factors, and how it may link historical aversive experiences with individual PNES events occurring much later and without apparent external trigger. We argue that, in view of the potential direct links between shame and PNES, the well-documented associations of shame with common comorbidities of this seizure disorder and the well-characterized relationship between chronic shame and stigma, there is a compelling case to pay greater attention to shame in relation to PNES. Its role in the treatment of patients with PNES is discussed in a separate, linked review incorporating case vignettes to highlight the complex interactions of different but interlinked shame-related issues in individual patients.

'It's both challenging and probably the most rewarding work' - A qualitative study of psychological therapy provider's experiences of working with people with dissociative seizures

Limited research exists exploring the experiences of psychological therapy providers (PTPs) working with people with dissociative seizures (DS). PTPs play a key role in the treatment of DS, yet sit at the end of a long, often ineffective process of diagnosis and waiting before treatment can commence. This qualitative study was undertaken involving 12 PTPs from specialist DS services throughout England and Scotland. Semi-structured interviews were carried out, using thematic analysis to evaluate the data. Four key themes were identified, "neurological to psychological", "putting the person with DS at the center", "treatment process", and "issues and impact of therapy with patients with DS". The findings showed that an unclear and uncomprehended diagnosis, together with waiting times had a detrimental impact on patients at the starting point of therapy. People with DS were perceived as a heterogeneous group whose treatment needed to be individualized, using the PTPs' full 'toolkit' of modalities and techniques, with a focus on improving quality of life, rather than reducing seizures. The study highlighted the complexity for PTPs of working with major but also accumulated minor traumas, compounded by the impact of DS on both PTPs and treatment. The desire of PTPs to be totally patient-focused meant that individualized treatment was considered essential and meant that participants were doubtful about the possibility of compiling an effective manual for the psychological treatment for DS.

Breaking the spell: Narrative Medicine applications for Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES)

Narrative Medicine (NM) sessions draw out the patient's narrative of illness or injury and treatment in the context of the patient's whole life story. The focus is to discover topics and areas in the patient's narrative that the patient needs to explore. PNES may be understood in many cases as a communication disorder in which distress is expressed somatically in a pathological way instead of an adaptive and verbal manner. Patients with PNES are frequently misdiagnosed, and accurate diagnosis may be delayed for many years. PNES may cause severe disruption of the patient's quality of life in terms of employment or schooling as well as relationships and activities of daily living. NM sessions encourage patients to communicate more effectively about their unspeakable distress and reclaim their lives from the communication disorder of PNES. Narrative writing exercises have also proven helpful for patients facing a variety of traumas and major stresses in situations similar to those faced by patients with PNES. This paper is a narrative review with an illustrative case report indicating NM applications to help a patient with PNES to communicate about a traumatic past that has been avoided and address psychogenic symptoms.

[Psychogenic pseudoseizures as psychoneurological problem]

The complexity of the problem is associated with the lack of reliable differential diagnostic indications for distinguishing epileptic and pseudo-epileptic seizures, as well as with the risk of provoking seizures during psychological sessions in patients with PPS. Therefore, apparently, only one of the Russian-language monographs that were published in recent years and one of the 1999 neurology guidelines pay attention to this problem. We have shown the nosological heterogeneity of patients with PPS, clinical particularities related to it and the need for a differentiated approach to its therapy. PPS is a serious clinical problem that can successfully be solved only by interdisciplinary development.

The coexistence of psychogenic nonepileptic and epileptic seizures in the same patient is more frequent than expected: Is there any clinical feature for defining these patients?

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) and PNES-epilepsy coexistence within all video-electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring unit (VEMU) referrals and to identify semiological and electrophysiological features to differentiate patients with PNES-epilepsy coexistence from PNES-only.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed medical files, VEMU reports, and videos of 1983 adult patients. Demographical, historical, clinical, neuroimaging, and electrophysiological parameters of all patients were recorded. We classified patients into five groups as definite PNES-only, definite PNES-epilepsy coexistence, definite PNES-probable epilepsy coexistence, probable PNES-definite epilepsy coexistence, and probable PNES-only. We defined a "definite" group when we saw the ictal EEG and/or video recording of the seizure. The "probable" term is used when there is strong evidence from the history of a particular seizure type and suggestive interictal EEGs without video recordings.

RESULTS

Two hundred and three of 1983 patients (10.23%) had PNES. Sixty-six of patients with PNES (32.51%) had definite PNES-epilepsy coexistence. When probable cases were included, the PNES-epilepsy coexistence ratio was 53.69% within all patients with PNES. The prevalence of PNES-epilepsy coexistence was 3.32% within all our VEMU referrals. Lower high school graduation rate, earlier age of disease onset, history of status epilepticus, febrile convulsion and brain surgery, use of three or more antiepileptic drugs, and abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings supported PNES-epilepsy coexistence (p < 0.05). On the contrary, seizure duration longer than 10 min was in favor of PNES-only (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of PNES-epilepsy coexistence might be more frequent in VEMUs than expected. Some demographic and semiological features and electrophysiological findings might be useful in differentiating patients with PNES-epilepsy coexistence from patients with PNES-only.

Coping with stress: A pilot study of a self-help stress management intervention for patients with epileptic or psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

PURPOSE

Many patients with epilepsy or psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) experience high levels of stress. Although psychological interventions have been developed for seizure disorders, few patients can currently access them. We aimed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of a self-help intervention targeting stress in patients with seizures, and to provide preliminary evidence for its effectiveness.

METHOD

Patients were recruited from outpatient neurology clinics and randomized to an immediate intervention group (n = 39), who received the intervention at baseline, or a delayed intervention group (n = 43), who received the intervention one-month postbaseline. Participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring stress (Smith Stress Symptom Inventory [SSSI]), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale [GAD-7]), depression (Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy [NDDI-E]), quality of life (European Quality of Life - 5 Dimensions [EQ-5D]), and seizure severity and frequency (Liverpool Seizure Severity Scale [LSSS-3]) at baseline, and at one- and two-month follow-up. Participants also provided telephone feedback. The intervention consisted of a self-help stress management workbook based on an integrative stress model framework.

RESULTS

Although the rate of participants failing to return follow-up information at two months was approximately 50%, those who completed the trial found the intervention acceptable; with the majority rating it as helpful (63.6%) and that they would recommend it to others with seizures (88.1%). A significant reduction in self-reported stress (P = .01) with a medium effect size (d_z = 0.51) was observed one-month postintervention. There were no significant changes in any other measures.

CONCLUSION

The intervention was perceived to be acceptable, safe, and helpful by participants. It could be a useful complementary treatment option for reducing stress experienced by patients living with seizure disorders. Further evaluation in a larger trial is warranted.