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By Lisa Marinelli Smith
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To the untrained – and sometimes trained eye – a seizure caused by factors other than epilepsy can look the same as a seizure caused by epilepsy. The confusion can lead to an unknowingly incorrect diagnosis and, therefore, an ineffective treatment plan.
Nonepileptic seizures are known as “provoked seizures” if medical conditions not linked to epilepsy cause them. A psychological event can also cause nonepileptic seizures. This type of seizure is called a “psychogenic nonepileptic seizure” (PNES).
In both cases, EEGs, short for electroencephalograms, which monitor brain activity, can determine whether someone is experiencing an epileptic seizure or a nonepileptic seizure. Only seizures caused by epilepsy change the brain’s electrical activity.
Epileptic seizures occur when nerve cells or neurons send mixed-up electrical signals to each other. When neurons don’t communicate normally, the body creates erratic thoughts, feelings and actions that the person cannot control. These manifest themselves in different types of epileptic seizures.
Causes of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures
Our psychological well-being is closely tied to our physical well-being. Stress can cause psychosomatic reactions, such as acne, chest pain and headaches, for example. Long-term, severe stress can also cause people to experience involuntary behavior, movement, sensation, or consciousness changes that resemble an epileptic seizure.
About four out of five people diagnosed with PNES have a history of psychiatric problems, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. These psychological factors include:
- Anxiety
- Attention problems
- Behavioral disturbances (anger, aggression, withdrawal)
- Family stressors, loss or conflict
- Personality disorders
- Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Post-traumatic stress disorders
- Psychosis
- Substance abuse
What do psychogenic nonepileptic seizures look like?
Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures are difficult to distinguish from epileptic seizures. Even medical personnel find diagnosis perplexing.
According to a 2020 article, “Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures,” are:, a patient experiencing PNES may react differently than someone with an epileptic seizure in the following ways:
- Closing eyes
- Moving in wild, thrashing ways
- Yelling verbal phrases
Making a brief loud noise intended to startle the person experiencing a seizure can also help determine whether it’s an epileptic seizure. With a PNES, a person might react to this sudden noise. However, during an epileptic seizure, this type of noise wouldn’t affect someone, according to the article.
Treatment for nonepileptic seizures is different from treatment for epileptic seizures. Antiseizure medications won’t stop seizures for someone experiencing psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Because of potential side effects, it’s essential to take a patient off the medication if they’ve been prescribed it erroneously.
Instead, doctors can rely on other tools to treat PNES, such as counseling, behavior strategies to manage stress, and, possibly, medication to treat anxiety or depression.
Provoked seizures
Provoked seizures are seizures caused by a medical condition other than epilepsy, such as:
- Adverse reactions to a prescription drug
- Fevers
- Head trauma
- Infections
- Strokes
- Withdrawal from drugs or alcohol
Like psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, the brain’s electrical activity does not change with a provoked seizure. When the underlying medical condition is treated or stabilized, episodes of seizures stop.
EEGs diagnose epileptic seizures
To either rule out or diagnose epilepsy, doctors rely on neurological exams, medical histories, descriptions from family members about the seizures and brain imaging.
However, EEGs or electroencephalograms are the gold standard to make an epilepsy diagnosis. During the test, electrodes attached to the scalp record brain activity – sometimes for 20 minutes and sometimes for several days.
Video monitoring of patients during an EEG also is critical to pick up on environmental factors or clues that can lead to the seizure.
NeuLine Health gives those experiencing seizures the option to take an at-home, ambulatory EEG instead of checking into an epilepsy monitoring unit for several days at a hospital.
Research shows that between 20% and 40% of patients monitored at epilepsy monitoring units are diagnosed with PNES and not epileptic seizures. This accurate diagnosis is critical to treat them properly.
For more information about our at-home, ambulatory EEGs, call NeuLine Health at (844) 212-5321 or visit our website.
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