Pseudoseizures, also known as psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), are a class of seizures that are a result of psychological distress as opposed to pathological brainwave activity.
Typical epileptic seizures occur as a result of sudden electrical disturbances within neural pathways in the brain that cause a person to lose control of muscle and motor function. This random event can become chronic and lead to being out of control and in some cases even lose consciousness.
Pseudoseizures or (PNES), are seizure behaviors that happen in those that don’t have epilepsy. They are derived from psychological conditions rather than from poor brain function.
The Epilepsy Foundation reports that pseudoseizures are common based upon EEG (electroencephalogram) monitoring of seizure patients. It showed that 20% within the study group actually had pseudoseizures.
Causes
Pseudoseizures can be a result of severe psychological stress from a single event or from other chronic underlying conditions that go untreated related to anxiety or depression from childhood PTSD.
Other conditions that could result in (PNES) include:
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GAD or generalized anxiety disorder
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anger management issues
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ADHD or attention deficit hyperactive disorder
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panic attacks
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PTSD or post traumatic syndrome disorder
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dissociative disorders
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traumatic physical injuries
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severe sexual or physical abuse
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schizophrenia
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substance abuse
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continual family conflicts
Symptoms
Pseudoseizures have distinct differences yet share similar symptoms of epileptic seizures including:
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lack of attention
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convulsions and involuntary muscle rigidity
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confusion
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loss of awareness of surroundings
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appearing spaced out with a blank look
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loss of balance
Getting a proper diagnosis is key to receiving the right medication or therapeutic intervention. Pseudoseizures can negatively impact ones quality of life.
Treatment
Most treatment options are aimed at best managing the condition by focusing on the underlying problematic mental health concerns that are at the root of the disorder.
Treatments that are beneficial and effective for PNES are:
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antidepressant medication
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medication for treating the symptoms of the underlying psychological issues
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family or individual counseling
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EMDR or eye movement desensitization reprocessing for PTSD
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neurofeedback therapy
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CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy
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mindfulness or relaxation techniques
Any of these therapies, when working with a licensed health practitioner can be of great benefit after a formal assessment has been made by a psychiatrist.
Therapy can help a person with pseudoseizures to identify the stress points and address them. Combining therapies with medication can bring about better results in some cases.
People who experience seizures and are not getting results from their medication may need to look into other approaches and confirm that they are not experiencing pseudoseizures or (PNES) which will require a completely different treatment strategy.
A good place to start is to talk with your doctor and get a thorough formal assessment to determine that what you are experiencing are pseudoseizures and not epilepsy. Once that has been determined, then treating the psychological aspects of the condition with neurofeedback and/or another therapy will get you better results.
Lastly, is to not give up hope there is help out there that can make a positive difference in how you live your life.
-A Balanced Brain is a Better Brain-