title: Is patient acceptance of the diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures linked to symptomatology?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An assessment was made of general symptoms in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), comparing those who do versus those who do not accept the diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire pilot study of newly diagnosed psychogenic nonepileptic seizure patients confirmed by video electroencephalography (EEG) was carried out, using a 59-item general symptom questionnaire, with frequency (score) ranging from never (0) to every day (5). Subsequent blinded assessment of patient's acceptance of diagnosis was made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 13 patients studied, over a 5-month period, 8 accepted the diagnosis, and 5 did not. Acceptance of diagnosis was associated with a lower total symptom score (p < .001) and significantly lower symptom scores in 7 of the 10 symptom subscales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The underlying symptomatology of psychogenic nonepileptic seizure patients differs between those who do versus those who do not accept the diagnosis. The complexity of additional symptoms may contribute to poorer outcomes in those that do not accept the psychogenic nonepileptic seizure diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: a Neurology Department , Derriford Hospital , Plymouth , UK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thaller
authors.affiliation: b School of Psychology , Plymouth University , Plymouth , UK.
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hyland
authors.affiliation: c Peninsula School of Medicine , Plymouth University , Plymouth , UK.
authors.forename: Rohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kandasamy
authors.affiliation: a Neurology Department , Derriford Hospital , Plymouth , UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sadler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: diagnosis acceptance; dissociative seizures; distributed pathophysiology; general symptoms; pseudoseizures; psychogenic nonepileptic seizures