TY - JOUR
T1 - Are psychogenic non-epileptic seizures just another symptom of conversion disorder?
AU - Kanaan, R A
AU - Duncan, Roderick
AU - Goldstein, Laura Hilary
AU - Jankovic, Joseph
AU - Cavanna, Andrea E
PY - 2017/5/1
Y1 - 2017/5/1
N2 - Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are classified with other functional neurological symptoms as “Conversion Disorder”, but there are reasons to wonder whether this symptomatology constitutes a distinct entity. We reviewed the literature comparing PNES with other functional neurological symptoms, finding eight studies that directly examined this question. Though all but one found significant differences - notably in presenting age, trauma history, and dissociation - they were divided on whether these differences represented an important distinction. We argue that the aetiological and mechanistic distinctions they support, particularly when bolstered by additional data, give reason to sustain a separation between these conditions.
AB - Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are classified with other functional neurological symptoms as “Conversion Disorder”, but there are reasons to wonder whether this symptomatology constitutes a distinct entity. We reviewed the literature comparing PNES with other functional neurological symptoms, finding eight studies that directly examined this question. Though all but one found significant differences - notably in presenting age, trauma history, and dissociation - they were divided on whether these differences represented an important distinction. We argue that the aetiological and mechanistic distinctions they support, particularly when bolstered by additional data, give reason to sustain a separation between these conditions.
U2 - 10.1136/jnnp-2017-315639
DO - 10.1136/jnnp-2017-315639
M3 - Article
SN - 0022-3050
VL - 88
SP - 425
EP - 429
JO - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry
JF - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry
IS - 5
ER -