title: Nonepileptic seizures - objective phenomena.
abstract: This chapter describes the evaluation process for the diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), which is determined based on concordance of the composite evidence available, including historic and physical exam findings, seizure semiology, and ictal/interictal electroencephalogram (EEG). No single clinical feature is pathognomonic of PNES. The diagnosis of PNES can be at times challenging, such as when seizure documentation on video-EEG cannot be readily achieved. A multicomponent approach to the diagnosis of PNES, with use of all available evidence, may facilitate diagnosis and then care of patients with PNES. Emerging evidence supports the use of symptom identification by the patient as part of the treatment of these patients. With advances in diagnostic methods and criteria, the diagnosis of PNES can be made reliably.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI, USA. Electronic address: william_lafrance_jr@brown.edu.
authors.forename: W Curt
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lafrance
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Università degli Studi di Milano, Ospedale San Paolo, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ranieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Blum
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: classification; comorbidity; differential diagnosis; epilepsy; functional; nonepileptic; personality; psychogenic; semiology; video-EEG