title: Standard medical care for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures in Brazil.
abstract: Knowledge about health systems can promote implementation of more specific and strategic health practices for patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). For this purpose, we surveyed the current management of PNES (standard medical care [SMC]) by Brazilian League Against Epilepsy members. Respondents reported diagnosing PNES with a mean frequency of 3patients/month. Video-EEG (vEEG) was considered the best method for the diagnosis. Respondents who have vEEG in their facilities refer to vEEG significantly more often than those who have no vEEG (p<0.001). Therefore, South and Southeast Brazil regions referred patients more frequently to vEEG than other regions (p=0.004). Psychotherapy was considered the most effective (92.2%) treatment option, followed by education (75%) and psychopharmacology (70.3%). There were no regional differences considering treatment. The study identified current national diagnostic and treatment practices across the country and identified relevant Brazilian regional differences.
authors: Laboratory of Neuroimaging in Neuroscience (LIM 21), University of São Paulo (USP) School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Laboratory of Clinical Neurophysiology, Psychiatry Department, University of São Paulo (USP) School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: kettevalente@msn.com.
authors: Kette D
authors: KD
authors: Valente
authors: Laboratory of Neuroimaging in Neuroscience (LIM 21), University of São Paulo (USP) School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Laboratory of Clinical Neurophysiology, Psychiatry Department, University of São Paulo (USP) School of Medicine, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Rzezak
authors: Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors: W Curt
authors: WC
authors: LaFrance
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Diagnosis; Nonepileptic seizures; Treatment; Video-EEG