title: Childhood trauma and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: A review of findings with speculations on the underlying mechanisms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this review was to examine the possible link between psychological trauma in a patient's medical history and the onset of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES).
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic search of published reports was made using the search engines PubMed-MedLine, EBSCO, PsycINFO, SFX, and Embase and the keywords "PNES", "psychogenic seizures", "sexual abuse", and "trauma".
  
  
  RESULTS
  A correlation emerged between history of childhood trauma and the presence of PNES. Antecedent trauma was more frequent in females than in males and in patients exhibiting psychiatric disorders but was inversely correlated with cognitive impairment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the presence of PNES, it is important to accurately investigate the patient's medical history in search of psychological trauma, particularly in women and in patients with psychiatric disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, "Salvini" Hospital, Garbagnate Milanese, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: massibeghi@libero.it.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Isotta
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cornaggia
authors.affiliation: Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magaudda
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perin
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peroni
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine, University of Milano Bicocca, Monza, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cornaggia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology
keywords: PNES; Physical abuse; Psychogenic nonepileptic seizure; Sexual abuse; Trauma