title: Pseudoseizure "status".
abstract: Psychogenic pain, disturbances of gait and stance, sensory symptoms, dizziness, and psychogenic seizures have been found to be the most common conversion symptoms in neurology clinics. A retrospective analysis of 18 patients suffering from pseudoseizure "status" is presented in this study. All of the patients fulfilled the DSM-III-R criteria of conversion disorder. However, 5 of them had concomitant major depression, 6 suffered from bulimia nervosa, and 7 met the criteria for substance abuse. On Axis II, 10 cases of borderline personality disorder, 2 cases of antisocial personality disorder, and 3 cases of histrionic personality disorder were diagnosed. The majority of the patients had attempted suicide and other forms of self-destructive behavior. The findings suggest that patients with pseudoseizure "status" suffer from severe affective imbalances and disturbed impulse control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rechlin
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Loew
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joraschky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000150:complications; D013226:Status Epilepticus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*