Somatisation indexes as differential factors in psychogenic pseudoepileptic and epileptic seizures

One of the postulated factors responsible for psychogenic epileptic seizures is somatisation. The purpose of this study was to analyse differences in the levels of somatisation manifested in the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) somatisation scales. Subjects were divided into three groups on the basis of a neurological examination and long-term video-monitoring. Group One (N=66, 55F; 11M) had only psychogenic pseudoepileptic seizures. Group Two (N=42, 32F; 10M) had both epileptic and psychogenic pseudoepileptic seizures. Group Three (N=36, 28F; 8M) had only epileptic seizures and served as the control group. Patients in all three groups were given the MMPI. Somatisation indexes in the three groups were compared. Significant between-group differences were obtained for the following somatisation indexes (mean scores): Hypochondriasis (P<0.001), Somatic Complaints (P<0.001), Organic Symptoms (P<0.015) and Poor Health (P<0.05). No significant differences were found for Physical-Somatic Complaints. Psychological evaluation of the differences in the levels of somatisation in these groups may help us to gain a better understanding of, and discrimination between, patients with psychogenic epileptic seizures, mixed seizures and epileptic seizures only.