title: The treatment and diagnosis of non-epileptic attack disorder.
abstract: Epilepsy is the most common serious neurological condition in the UK with a lifetime prevalence of 2-5% of the population. Epilepsy is also common in the learning disability population. As many as 36% of patients diagnosed with epilepsy may have 'pseudoepileptic' episodes instead of, or as well as, true epileptic attacks. This article explains how the diagnosis of non-epileptic attack disorder is made and identifies some of the difficulties inherent in diagnosing and treating this disorder. The costs of failing to recognize the condition are illustrated in a case study that also demonstrates the effectiveness of the interventions of a specialist epilepsy nurse in terms of health and economic gains and is an example of the benefits of effective multidisciplinary teamwork.
authors.affiliation: Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust, Oldchurch Hospital, Romford, Essex.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000451:nursing*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009746:Nursing, Team; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing*