Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: can we make a positive diagnosis?

Many disorders other than epilepsy are characterized by paroxysmal events. Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (NES) form one differential diagnostic group which mimic epileptic phenomena and are caused by various psychic disorders. The diagnosis of NES is mostly based on the exclusion of epilepsy. We review the histories of six patients, who were hospitalized in an epilepsy unit and were diagnosed as having psychogenic NES. Most of them had been previously given the diagnosis of epilepsy. It is suggested that for accurate diagnosis it is very important that a patient initially undergoes psychiatric assessment along with standard diagnostic procedures (e.g. neurologic, psychological and physical investigations), that may encourage making a positive diagnosis of non-epilepsy. (C) 1999 BEA Trading Ltd.