Agoraphobia with panic disorder or epileptic seizure? Controversial conclusions on diagnosis - A case report

This paper describes a patient suffering from agoraphobia with panic disorder and with a history of self-induced epileptic seizures. The anxiety syndrom causing the admission to hospital could be diagnosed as non epileptic. He was treated successfully with a behaviour therapy. We discuss the possible interactions between anxiety disorders and epileptic seizures and some diagnostic demarcations. We conclude that even people with mild forms of epilepsy may develop an anxiety disorder arising from the fear of again getting epileptic seizures. To work out the different syndromes of epileptic seizures and of panic attacks should be part of the therapy.