Clinical manifestations of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in children: Experiences from a single center

Background: This study aimed to determine the clinical features of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) and to enhance the accuracy of the differential diagnosis of epilepsy. Methods: This retrospective case series included patients diagnosed with PNES between December 2003 and February 2019 at...

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Main Authors: Chia-Yih Wang, Ting-Rong Hsu, Kai-Ping Chang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-03-01
Series:Pediatrics and Neonatology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957222001899
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author Chia-Yih Wang
Ting-Rong Hsu
Kai-Ping Chang
author_facet Chia-Yih Wang
Ting-Rong Hsu
Kai-Ping Chang
author_sort Chia-Yih Wang
collection DOAJ
description Background: This study aimed to determine the clinical features of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) and to enhance the accuracy of the differential diagnosis of epilepsy. Methods: This retrospective case series included patients diagnosed with PNES between December 2003 and February 2019 at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. We used International Classification of Diseases (10th revision) codes for screening, and relevant medical records were reviewed. Experienced pediatric neurologists diagnosed PNES based on clinical manifestations, and occasionally on confirmatory video-electroencephalography (EEG) or simultaneous scalp-EEG during the paroxysmal attack. General information, clinical manifestations, psychological conditions, and relevant laboratory or imaging test results were collected and analyzed. Results: Twenty-six patients (mean age, 13 years 8 months) were evaluated, 9 male and 17 female. Ten patients with PNES had a previously established diagnosis of epilepsy. The duration between symptom onset and diagnosis ranged from 1 to 120 (mean, 21; median, 12) days. Sixteen patients showed possible causative psychosocial stressors. Multiple characteristic features or specific clinical manifestations of PNES—that usually differ from epileptic seizures—were observed in all patients with PNES. Conclusion: A detailed evaluation of clinical manifestations and medical history is important for the accurate diagnosis of PNES.
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spelling doaj-art-2c16e31a9a914c698db3d80e6c0851832025-08-20T01:55:37ZengElsevierPediatrics and Neonatology1875-95722023-03-0164220120710.1016/j.pedneo.2021.09.008Clinical manifestations of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in children: Experiences from a single centerChia-Yih Wang0Ting-Rong Hsu1Kai-Ping Chang2Department of Pediatrics, New Taipei City Hospital, New Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanDivision of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Section 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan.Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, Wei-Gong Memorial Hospital, Miaoli, TaiwanBackground: This study aimed to determine the clinical features of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) and to enhance the accuracy of the differential diagnosis of epilepsy. Methods: This retrospective case series included patients diagnosed with PNES between December 2003 and February 2019 at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. We used International Classification of Diseases (10th revision) codes for screening, and relevant medical records were reviewed. Experienced pediatric neurologists diagnosed PNES based on clinical manifestations, and occasionally on confirmatory video-electroencephalography (EEG) or simultaneous scalp-EEG during the paroxysmal attack. General information, clinical manifestations, psychological conditions, and relevant laboratory or imaging test results were collected and analyzed. Results: Twenty-six patients (mean age, 13 years 8 months) were evaluated, 9 male and 17 female. Ten patients with PNES had a previously established diagnosis of epilepsy. The duration between symptom onset and diagnosis ranged from 1 to 120 (mean, 21; median, 12) days. Sixteen patients showed possible causative psychosocial stressors. Multiple characteristic features or specific clinical manifestations of PNES—that usually differ from epileptic seizures—were observed in all patients with PNES. Conclusion: A detailed evaluation of clinical manifestations and medical history is important for the accurate diagnosis of PNES.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957222001899clinical manifestationsepilepsypediatricpsychogenic non-epileptic seizures
spellingShingle Chia-Yih Wang
Ting-Rong Hsu
Kai-Ping Chang
Clinical manifestations of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in children: Experiences from a single center
Pediatrics and Neonatology
clinical manifestations
epilepsy
pediatric
psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
title Clinical manifestations of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in children: Experiences from a single center
title_full Clinical manifestations of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in children: Experiences from a single center
title_fullStr Clinical manifestations of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in children: Experiences from a single center
title_full_unstemmed Clinical manifestations of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in children: Experiences from a single center
title_short Clinical manifestations of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in children: Experiences from a single center
title_sort clinical manifestations of psychogenic non epileptic seizures in children experiences from a single center
topic clinical manifestations
epilepsy
pediatric
psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875957222001899
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AT tingronghsu clinicalmanifestationsofpsychogenicnonepilepticseizuresinchildrenexperiencesfromasinglecenter
AT kaipingchang clinicalmanifestationsofpsychogenicnonepilepticseizuresinchildrenexperiencesfromasinglecenter