title: Predicting nonepileptic seizures utilizing seizure frequency, EEG, and response to medication.
abstract: The objective was to develop criteria that would prompt evaluation with video EEG monitoring in order to shorten the time to diagnosis of nonepileptic seizures. Over a period of 3 consecutive years, all patients being seen for seizures or the consideration of seizures meeting the following criteria were admitted for video EEG monitoring: (1) at least two events per week, (2) refractory to at least two medications, and (3) no prior EEG studies with epileptiform abnormalities after at least two attempts. A total of 13 patients met all three criteria, 11 of these patients had nonepileptic seizures, yielding a positive predictive value of 0.85. The median time from onset of symptoms until referral to the study institution was 3 years, with a range of 0-15 years. The median time from the first patient visit to a definitive diagnosis on video EEG monitoring was 1 month, with a range of 0-7 months. Patients meeting these three criteria frequently have nonepileptic seizures. These patients should undergo video EEG monitoring in a timely fashion to clarify the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Montana Epilepsy Program, Great Falls, MT 59405, USA. ansdocs@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Bradley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014741:Video Recording / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods