title: Can cortical silent period and motor threshold be practical parameters in the comparison of patients with generalized epilepsy and patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures?.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare the cortical excitability of patients with generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCSs) and that of patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNESs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were classified into groups according to their electroencephalogram (EEG) findings and seizure types: group 1 = GTCS with an abnormal EEG, group 2 = GTCS with a normal EEG and group 3 = PNES with a normal EEG. The control group included healthy volunteers with normal EEGs. Cortical silent period (CSP) and motor threshold (MT) were measured for all groups and the results were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CSPs were significantly prolonged in groups 1 and 2 when compared with group 3 and the control group. No differences were found between the MT measurements of all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prolongation of CSP may demonstrate the differences between the pathophysiological mechanisms of GTCS and those of PNES.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Near East University Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus. ipekdal @ yahoo.com
authors.forename: İlker H
authors.initials: İH
authors.lastname: İpekdal
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Karadaş
authors.forename: Ümit H
authors.initials: ÜH
authors.lastname: Ulaş
authors.forename: Okay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vural
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004829:Epilepsy, Generalized / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012640:Seizures / Q000503:physiopathology*