High prevalence of depression among Iranian patients with first onset pseudoseizures.
BACKGROUND
Pseudoseizures are common and can pose a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Exploring the role of psychiatric disorders can be helpful. The aim of this study was to evaluate depression in patients with first onset pseudoseizure.


METHODS
Consecutive patients with pseudoseizure (DSM IV) in an emergency room (Tabriz, northwestern Iran) were evaluated with beck depression inventory (BDI) and were compared to age- and sex-matched patients with other neurologic disorders.


RESULTS
Forty-two patients with pseudoseizure (52% male; age: 25.7 +/- 6.4) were compared to 50 patients with other neurologic disorders (55.1% male; age: 27.2 +/- 5.7) by BDI. Marriage status and educational level were almost similar between two groups. The mean (+/-SD) score of BDI in patients with pseudoseizures and controls was 23.6 +/- 7.4 and 14.14 +/-10.5, respectively. Depression was more common and more severe among patients with pseudoseizures (96% vs. 60%).


CONCLUSIONS
Depression is common among patients with pseudoseizure even in patients with first onset attacks.
Farnam
Alireza
A
Department of Psychiatry, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Goreishizadeh
Mohammad Ali
MA
Farhang
Sara
S
Abdolaliyan
Fatemeh
F