title: Psychiatric disorders, trauma, and MMPI profile in a Spanish sample of nonepileptic seizure patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine clinical characteristics in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and to analyze the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) profiles and their relation to psychopathology. Thirty patients with nonepileptic seizures confirmed through video-electroencephalography were included. A structured clinical interview (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R), a measure of personality variables (MMPI), and several structured interviews designed for collecting data on clinical and personal history were administered. Descriptive and comparative statistical methods were used. Of the sample, 67.7% met criteria for two or more simultaneous Axis I diagnoses, and 60% for an Axis II personality disorder. The most frequently elevated scales of the MMPI were Schizophrenia and Depression. There were multiple scale elevations in 12 profiles, the 91.7% of which had elevated "neurotic" and "psychotic" scales. The subgroup with personality disorders showed higher scores on the MMPI Paranoia and Hypomania scales, and the subgroup with traumatic experiences showed higher scores on the MMPI Hypomania scale. Our sample comprising patients with nonepileptic seizures showed a significant degree of psychopathology and absence of a unique character substrate. According to grades of clinical severity of pseudoseizures, several subgroups and different therapeutic implications may be defined.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clínico de Psiquiatría y Psicología, Hospital Clínico, C/ Villarroel-170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baillés
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pintor
authors.forename: Emili
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Egea
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matrai
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Pablo
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arroyo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014741:Video Recording