Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES)

Conversion disorders were first formally and scientifically studied in the 19th century by Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot at the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris. One of his disciples, Sigmund Freud, developed his own theories about conversion disorders, which were the fiundation of psychoanalysis.

PNES are similar and commonly misdiagnosed as epileptic seizures. Specialized testing including Video-Electroencephalogram (VEEG) is used to differentiate epileptic and non-epileptic episodes. Frequent misdiagnoses and delayed accurate diagnosis are likely to have a huge impact on the quality of life of the patients and their families, ocial isolation, under- or unemployment, chronicity, and disability.

Sexual abuse, trauma, co-ocurring psychopathology, medical illnesses, interpersonal conflict, family illness, death, loss.

PNES are treated with psychotherapy including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT), psychodynamic therapies, Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PNES and PTSD.

Frequently, after being accurately diagnosed. patients with PNES are seen as "faking" epilepsy with "intentional or purposeful" episodes because they seek attention-WRONG.

They should use their willpower to overcome these symptoms-WRONG.

While challenges still exist due to the public and health professionals' misinformations, PNES is treatable with psychotherapy. ASK FOR HELP.