title: [Significance of serum prolactin determination in the differential diagnosis of psychogenic seizures--exemplified by 2 case reports].
abstract: Conversion neurotic bodily disorders manifest themselves mainly in the motor system (e.g. psychogenic paralyses and gait disturbances). Psychogenic seizures are observed as well; these may also become manifest as hystero-epilepsy association with an organic convulsive disease. The described symptoms "stimulate" a bodily process, so that the differential diagnosis frequently poses problems. A rapid and clear diagnosis is of decisive importance for a well aimed therapy. The determination of an increased prolactin content in serum in the postictal phase, expressing an epileptological event, constitutes an important element in separating a psychogenic from an organic seizure. The differential diagnosis of cerebral and psychogenic seizures should, in addition to identifying a possible psychopathological process, utilize this diagnostic tool. This will be demonstrated by presenting two cases of female adolescents with epileptic an psychogenic seizures.
authors.affiliation: Funktionsbereich Psychosomatik der Universitäts-Kinderklinik Münster.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kurlemann
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004830:Epilepsy, Tonic-Clonic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin
vernacular_title: Bedeutung der Serumprolaktinbestimmung in der Differentialdiagnose psychogener Anfälle--dargestellt an zwei Fallbeispielen.