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9 - Nonepileptic seizures

from Part II - Epilepsy diagnosis and treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 November 2009

Steven C. Schachter
Affiliation:
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, 300 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
Martha J. Morrell
Affiliation:
Columbia University, New York
Kerry L. Flynn
Affiliation:
Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York
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Summary

Epileptic seizures are transient events of altered neurological function that occur because of paroxysmal brain electrical activity. Other events of altered neurological function may look very much like seizures, but are not caused by electrical brain activity. Epileptic seizure-like events may be caused by changes in blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, or by changes in blood sugar. Emotional triggers may also cause transient epileptic seizure-like events. Stress, depression, and anxiety may cause physical symptoms that closely resemble seizures. In fact, it may not be possible for a physician to tell the difference between an emotionally triggered seizure – called a psychogenic seizure – and an epileptic seizure unless an electroencephalogram (EEG) can be recorded during the event. The EEG shows brain electrical activity and will differentiate epileptic and nonepileptic seizures.

Dr Steven Schachter is Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School and an epileptologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He is Chair of the Professional Advisory Board of the Epilepsy Foundation.

In this chapter, Dr Schachter deals with nonepileptic seizures, drawing from his knowledge of the field and his own personal experience caring for individuals with this condition. Diagnosis may be difficult, but is especially important in order to ensure that the right kind of treatment is provided.

MJM

What are nonepileptic seizures?

Nonepileptic seizures are behavioral events that look to other people like epileptic seizures or are events that create internal sensations that may also occur in people who have epileptic seizures.

Type
Chapter
Information
Women with Epilepsy
A Handbook of Health and Treatment Issues
, pp. 89 - 98
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2003

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References

Alper, K, Devinsky, O, Perrine, K, Vazquez, B, Luciano, D. Nonepileptic seizures and childhood sexual and physical abuse. Neurology 1993; 43:1950–3Google Scholar
Chabolla, DR, Krahn, , So, EL, Rummans, TA. Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Mayo Clin Proc 1996; 71:493–500Google Scholar
Rowan AJ. Nonepileptic seizures. In The Comprehensive Evaluation and Treatment of Epilepsy. A Practical Guide, ed. SC Schachter, DL Schomer. Academic Press, San Diego, 1997, pp. 173–183
Rowan AJ, Gates JR, eds. Non-epileptic seizures. Butterworth–Heinemann, Boston, 1993
Schachter SC. Brainstorms: Epilepsy in Our Words. Raven Press, New York, 1993
Shen, W, Bowman, ES, Markand, ON. Presenting the diagnosis of pseudoseizure. Neurology 1990; 40:756–9Google Scholar
Trimble, MR. Pseudoseizures. Neurol Clin 1966; 4:531–48Google Scholar

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  • Nonepileptic seizures
    • By Steven C. Schachter, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, 300 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
  • Edited by Martha J. Morrell, Columbia University, New York, Kerry L. Flynn, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York
  • Book: Women with Epilepsy
  • Online publication: 02 November 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545030.009
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  • Nonepileptic seizures
    • By Steven C. Schachter, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, 300 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
  • Edited by Martha J. Morrell, Columbia University, New York, Kerry L. Flynn, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York
  • Book: Women with Epilepsy
  • Online publication: 02 November 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545030.009
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Nonepileptic seizures
    • By Steven C. Schachter, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, 300 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
  • Edited by Martha J. Morrell, Columbia University, New York, Kerry L. Flynn, Columbia-Presbyterian Cancer Center, New York
  • Book: Women with Epilepsy
  • Online publication: 02 November 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511545030.009
Available formats
×