Hypnosis-provoked nonepileptic events in children.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the use of hypnotic suggestion as a means of precipitating nonepileptic events in children while they are undergoing video electroencephalographic monitoring (VEEG) for differential diagnosis of seizurelike behavior.


METHODS
Nine children aged 8-16 years were referred for VEEG to differentiate between epileptic seizures and nonepileptic events. All subjects underwent psychiatric consultation. Hypnosis was attempted in all subjects to try to provoke typical seizurelike events.


RESULTS
In eight of nine patients, their typical seizurelike events were provoked by hypnosis. In all eight children, video and EEG analysis of the provoked events demonstrated them to be nonepileptic. No epileptiform abnormalities were present on interictal EEGs. No epileptic seizures occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypnosis is a useful and ethical means of provoking psychogenic nonepileptic events in children. Hypnotic suggestion should be considered as a provocative method when possibly psychogenic nonepileptic events have not occurred spontaneously during diagnostic evaluation.
Olson
Donald M
DM
Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5235, USA. dmolson@stanford.edu <dmolson@stanford.edu>
Howard
Neva
N
Shaw
Richard J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014743:Videotape Recording