Outcome of psychogenic seizures in children and adolescents compared with adults.
We compared outcome of psychogenic seizures documented by video-EEG in 18 nonepileptic children and adolescents (ages 8 to 18; median, 14.5 years old) and 20 adults (ages 25 to 56; median, 34.0 years old). Outcome was significantly better for the younger patients at 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after diagnosis. At these follow-up times, the percentages of children and adolescents free of psychogenic attacks were 73%, 75%, and 81%; at the same follow-up times, the percentages of adults free of psychogenic attacks were only 25%, 25%, and 40%. Factors leading to better outcome for younger patients may have been different psychological mechanisms at different ages of onset and greater effectiveness with earlier intervention.
Wyllie
E
E
Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195-5221.
Friedman
D
D
Lüders
H
H
Morris
H
H
Rothner
D
D
Turnbull
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology*