[Etiologic and diagnostic factors of psychogenic pseudo-epileptic seizures]

The term psychogenic pseudoepileptic seizures (or psychogenic non-epileptic seizures-NES) generally refers to episodes of psychological origin that resemble epilepsy but without underlying epilepsy. The diagnosis of pseudo-epileptic seizures is confirmed in 5-33% of patients that are considered to suffer from refractory epilepsies. Making a correct diagnosis in patients presenting with attack disorders is sometimes very difficult. However, the best way to establish differential diagnosis of epileptic and pseudoepileptic seizures is to apply long-term video EEG monitoring. Triggering a seizure by means of placebo administration or suggestion to start or stop seizure can be also a helpful method in differential diagnosis. Over the last decade epileptologist have been paying increasing attention to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales in describing or distinguishing real epileptic seizures vs. non-epileptic attacks. The results of the study may have practical implications for neurological and epilepsy centres, and for improving clinical knowledge and allow to establish aetiological classification of psychogenic pseudoepileptic seizures.