title: Psychological processes and histories associated with nonepileptic versus epileptic seizure presentations.
abstract: Nonepileptic seizures (NES) provide a clinical challenge as the mechanisms involved remain uncertain. The present study compares 27 participants with confirmed NES presentations with 39 individuals with epileptic seizure (ES) presentations only, on indices of psychopathology, trauma history, dissociative propensity, and attachment style. Psychopathology and dissociation were found to be significantly elevated in the NES group compared with the ES group. No differences were found between groups in terms of trauma history and attachment style. However, trauma history did correlate significantly with psychopathology in the NES group but not in the ES group. Finally, whereas the relationship between psychological variables and seizure frequency was weak within the ES group, trauma history, a fearful attachment dimension, psychopathology, and dissociation predicted seizure frequency in the NES group. Implications for understanding and interventions with NES presentations are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Southern Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland, UK. nicola.lally@southerntrust.hscni.net
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lally
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCusker
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morrow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009769:Object Attachment; D011599:Psychopathology / Q000379:methods*; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult