Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and movement disorders: A comparative review.
OBJECTIVE
Neurologic symptoms due to a psychogenic cause are frequently seen in clinical practice. Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) and psychogenic movement disorders (PMD) are among the most common psychogenic neurologic disorders. PNES and PMD are usually investigated and managed separately by different neurology subspecialists. We review the main epidemiologic and clinical features of both PNES and PMD, aiming to highlight their similarities and differences and to see whether a common framework for these disorders exists.


RESULTS
Data from the literature show that there is a profound overlap between PNES and PMD, which would argue for a larger unifying pathophysiology with variable phenotypic manifestations.


CONCLUSIONS
Collaborative and integrated research among epileptologists, movement disorders experts, psychiatrists, psychologists, and physiotherapists may increase our collective knowledge about the pathophysiologic mechanisms of PNES and PMD and therefore improve outcomes for these patients.
Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders (RE, MJE), University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, UK; Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Biomedicina e Movimento (RE, FB, GT, MT), Università di Verona; Divisione di Neurologia (FB), Ospedale "Franz Tappeiner," Merano, Italy; Department of Neurology (ET), Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University; and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (ET), Salzburg, Austria.
Roberto
R
Erro
Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders (RE, MJE), University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, UK; Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Biomedicina e Movimento (RE, FB, GT, MT), Università di Verona; Divisione di Neurologia (FB), Ospedale "Franz Tappeiner," Merano, Italy; Department of Neurology (ET), Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University; and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (ET), Salzburg, Austria.
Francesco
F
Brigo
Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders (RE, MJE), University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, UK; Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Biomedicina e Movimento (RE, FB, GT, MT), Università di Verona; Divisione di Neurologia (FB), Ospedale "Franz Tappeiner," Merano, Italy; Department of Neurology (ET), Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University; and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (ET), Salzburg, Austria.
Eugen
E
Trinka
Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders (RE, MJE), University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, UK; Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Biomedicina e Movimento (RE, FB, GT, MT), Università di Verona; Divisione di Neurologia (FB), Ospedale "Franz Tappeiner," Merano, Italy; Department of Neurology (ET), Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University; and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (ET), Salzburg, Austria.
Giulia
G
Turri
Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders (RE, MJE), University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, UK; Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Biomedicina e Movimento (RE, FB, GT, MT), Università di Verona; Divisione di Neurologia (FB), Ospedale "Franz Tappeiner," Merano, Italy; Department of Neurology (ET), Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University; and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (ET), Salzburg, Austria.
Mark J
MJ
Edwards
Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders (RE, MJE), University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology, UK; Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Biomedicina e Movimento (RE, FB, GT, MT), Università di Verona; Divisione di Neurologia (FB), Ospedale "Franz Tappeiner," Merano, Italy; Department of Neurology (ET), Christian Doppler Klinik, Paracelsus Medical University; and Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience (ET), Salzburg, Austria.
Michele
M
Tinazzi