Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
04:51

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Published on: April 11, 2019

Pediatric psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: a study of assessment tools

Jay A Salpekar1, Sigita Plioplys, Prabha Siddarth

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Children's National Medical Center, George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20010, USA. jsalpeka@cnmc.org

Epilepsy & Behavior : E&B
|December 2, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Children with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) show higher somatization and functional disability compared to epilepsy. These measures may help differentiate PNES behavioral profiles in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Child Psychology
  • Behavioral Medicine

Background:

  • Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are often misdiagnosed, leading to delayed or incorrect treatment.
  • Differentiating PNES from epilepsy in children is crucial for appropriate management and improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify specific assessment tools and behavioral domains that distinguish children with PNES from those with epilepsy.
  • To explore the behavioral profiles associated with PNES in a pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 24 children with PNES and 24 children with epilepsy, recruited from five US epilepsy centers.
  • Participants and their parents completed a battery of validated behavioral questionnaires assessing somatization, anxiety, functional disability, depression, and alexithymia.
  • Statistical analysis was used to compare scores between the PNES and epilepsy groups.

Main Results:

  • Children with PNES exhibited significantly higher scores on the Childhood Somatization Inventory and the Functional Disability Inventory compared to children with epilepsy.
  • Parents of children with PNES reported more somatic problems on the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).
  • Instruments measuring depression, anxiety, and alexithymia did not significantly differentiate between the two groups.

Conclusions:

  • Measures of somatization and functional disability show promise as tools for differentiating the behavioral characteristics of PNES from epilepsy in children.
  • The heightened somatic awareness and perceived disability in PNES underscore its resemblance to other pediatric somatoform disorders.
  • Further research into these behavioral markers could improve diagnostic accuracy for pediatric PNES.

More Related Videos

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale07:35

Behavioral Characterization of Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures: Moving Beyond the Racine Scale

Published on: July 8, 2025

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy09:57

Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy

Published on: September 20, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview01:24

Epilepsy and Seizures: Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease marked by recurrent, unpredictable seizures. These seizures are caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain, leading to behavior, sensation, or consciousness alterations. They can also cause transient impairment of awareness, interfering with daily activities.
Various factors can trigger epilepsy, including genetic factors, brain damage, metabolic causes, and unknown etiology. Diagnosis of epilepsy involves electroencephalography (EEG), which...
Seizures: Classification01:13

Seizures: Classification

Epilepsy is primarily characterized by unpredictable seizures, either provoked by an identifiable factor, such as injury or illness, or unprovoked, occurring spontaneously without apparent cause.
Seizures are typically classified into two main categories: focal and generalized seizures.
Focal Seizures
Focal seizures originate from specific regions of the brain. These seizures are further sub-classified into two types:
Epilepsy ll: Types01:22

Epilepsy ll: Types

Recurrent seizures, stemming from abnormal electrical activity in the brain, are the defining characteristic of epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition. Because seizure features vary greatly, epilepsy is classified using two systems: by seizure type and by epilepsy syndromes. These classifications enable clinicians to describe seizure patterns and select suitable treatment strategies.I. Classification by Seizure Type1. Focal EpilepsyFocal epilepsy begins in one hemisphere of the brain.
Seizures l: Introduction01:20

Seizures l: Introduction

Understanding seizures and epilepsy relies on key definitions that help in recognizing, classifying, and managing these disorders. These definitions provide a framework for recognizing, classifying, and managing seizure disorders.DefinitionsA seizure is a sudden, abnormal burst of electrical activity in the brain that can cause changes in awareness, movement, sensation, or behavior, depending on the area involved. Epilepsy is a chronic condition characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures,...