title: Non-epileptic seizures and other functional neurological symptoms: predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors.
abstract: This naturalistic study describes potential etiological factors in outpatients with functional neurological symptoms recorded during a screening interview with a single psychotherapist in 59 consecutive patients. The most commonly identified predisposing/precipitating factors were trauma (78.0%), family dysfunction (62.7%), and bereavement (62.7%). Family dysfunction (54.2%) and affective disorder (42%) were the commonest perpetuating factors. Trauma was more common in non-epileptic seizures; health anxiety, in men; family problems, in women. This study demonstrates the heterogeneity of this patient population. Further research is indicated to explore differences in predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating factors in different patient groups with functional symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Academic Neurology Unit, University of Sheffield Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield, UK. mreuber@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reuber
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Howlett
authors.forename: Ajjaz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Grünewald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001601:Bereavement; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D014202:Tremor / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology