Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.

W Curt LaFrance1

  • 1Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA. William_LaFrance_Jr@Brown.edu

Current Opinion in Neurology
|March 5, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Response of the ILAE FDS task force to: A call for reflection on unintended consequences: Should 'Functional/Dissociative Seizures' replace 'Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures'?

Seizure·2026
Same author

Spiritual Assessment of Neurologic Patients: A Practical Approach.

Neurology. Clinical practice·2026
Same author

A survey about laughter upon viewing functional seizures.

Frontiers in neurology·2026
Same author

Associations among epilepsy phenotypes and pain, sleep interference, and dissociative symptoms.

Rehabilitation psychology·2026
Same author

Building a Functional Neurological Disorder Program: Finding Solutions to Common Obstacles.

Seminars in neurology·2026
Same author

Dissociation in functional/dissociative seizures: Alignment with neurobiology across the lifespan.

Epilepsia·2026
Same journal

Movement disorders and Parkinson's disease: collaborative and interdisciplinary research to advance understanding of neural circuit dysfunction, pathophysiology, and care: new horizons in technology, neuroimaging, neurophysiology, and genetics toward personalized medicine.

Current opinion in neurology·2026
Same journal

Editorial introduction.

Current opinion in neurology·2026
Same journal

Multimodal mapping of balance dysfunction in Parkinson's disease: a consensus roadmap for research and intervention.

Current opinion in neurology·2026
Same journal

Tourette syndrome: brain neurophysiology, circuit dysfunction, and neuromodulation across invasive and noninvasive approaches.

Current opinion in neurology·2026
Same journal

Dystonia: from phenotypes to genetics and therapeutic advances.

Current opinion in neurology·2026
Same journal

What can we learn from eye movements in movement disorders and Parkinson's disease?

Current opinion in neurology·2026
See all related articles

Accurate diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) is crucial. Advances in diagnosis and understanding PNES as part of somatoform disorders improve treatment for these challenging patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Psychiatry
  • Clinical Neurophysiology

Background:

  • Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are frequently misdiagnosed, leading to significant costs and suboptimal patient care.
  • Patients with PNES often receive unnecessary treatments like antiepileptic drugs and may not get appropriate mental healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent studies on psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES).
  • To summarize developments in the diagnosis and treatment of PNES.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on PNES diagnosis and treatment.
  • Examination of diagnostic methodologies, including video electroencephalography and bedside observations.
  • Analysis of challenges in clinical trials for patients with overlapping neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Misdiagnosis of PNES incurs substantial costs for patients and the healthcare system.
  • Video electroencephalography is the gold standard for PNES diagnosis, often augmented by clinical observations.
  • PNES are viewed within the spectrum of somatoform disorders, informing diagnostic approaches.

Conclusions:

  • Diagnosing and treating PNES presents significant challenges in medical practice.
  • Advances in clinical findings and laboratory diagnostics aid in establishing a more accurate PNES diagnosis.
  • Proper diagnosis empowers neurologists and mental health providers to address the underlying causes of PNES.