title: Pseudoseizures (non epileptic attack disorder)--clinical management and outcome in 50 patients.
abstract: The present report outlines the clinical management and outcome of 50 patients with pseudoseizures who, for practical reasons, are divided into acute and chronic groups. The former group, perhaps not surprisingly, fared better than the latter. Management consisted primarily of confrontation with the diagnosis with additional psychotherapy of various degrees of intensity. Overall, 46% of patients taking anticonvulsants either came off their medication or had it reduced. It was encouraging to observe that 76% of the 50 patients derived significant benefit for management with, on follow up, 80% of the acute group and 28% of the chronic group becoming seizure free and 34% of the latter group improving significantly. Early diagnosis and management are important in dealing with the problem of pseudoseizures and appear to produce a good outcome, associated, in general terms, with a less satisfactory outcome in those in whom the problem is chronic.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Epilepsy Centre, Sydney University, Westmead Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Snars
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome