Health care utilization of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.
Medical records were reviewed for 94 consecutive inpatients diagnosed with nonepileptic seizures. A 122-item follow-up questionnaire was returned by 71 patients (76%). The majority of the subjects reported fewer seizures (73%), their general health as "very good" (20%) or "good" (37), and "improved" quality of life (55%). Many patients had either discontinued (50%) or reduced (17%) use of anticonvulsant medications. The patients most often sought care from primary care providers (46%), followed by psychiatrists/psychologists (41%) and neurologists (31%). Of the 57 patients (80%) advised to seek psychiatric care, 27 individuals (47%) followed this recommendation.
Krahn
L E
LE
Department of Psychiatry, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Reese
M M
MM
Rummans
T A
TA
Peterson
G C
GC
Suman
V J
VJ
Sharbrough
F W
FW
Cascino
G D
GD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*