title: An estimate of the prevalence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.
abstract: The prevalence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures is difficult to estimate. We propose an estimate based on a calculation. We used the following data, which are known or have been estimated, and are generally accepted. A prevalence of epilepsy of 0.5-1%; a proportion of intractable epilepsy of 20-30%; a percentage of these referred to epilepsy centers of 20-50%; and a percentage of patients referred to epilepsy centers that are psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: 10-20%. Using the low estimates, the prevalence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures would be 1/50 000. Using the high estimates, the prevalence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures would be 1/3000. The prevalence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures is somewhere between 1/50 000 and 1/3000, or 2 to 33 per 100 000, making it a significant neurologic condition.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33606, USA. sbenbadi@hsc.usf.edu
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Benbadis
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Allen Hauser
mesh_terms: D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015995:Prevalence; D012640:Seizures / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology