psychogenic

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) awareness has taken off in 2014: new book on PNES, PNES/ non-epileptic attack disorder awareness colors, PNES conference hosted by NEREG

The year 2014 has been very important for the raising of awareness and education about psychogenic non-epileptic seizure (PNES).  On January, Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures: A Guide was published and has now sold almost 400 copies.  Some patients and family members decided to share this book with their neurologists and mental health professionals and wrote me …

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) awareness has taken off in 2014: new book on PNES, PNES/ non-epileptic attack disorder awareness colors, PNES conference hosted by NEREG Read More »

It has a Name

KT has written this powerful poem about her struggle with her mysterious illness-psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) and the importance of finally being told what it was exactly that she has been suffering.  She has generously agreed to share with us and we thank her for that. Friends-close friends from near and far decide it is …

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Why do Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) become chronic for so many?

For the past year or so I have had a survey up on www.nonepilepticseizures.com homepage.  It asks: How long have you been suffering non-epileptic episodes? 109 responses were received.  Note that this is not a scientific survey that is based on those who wished to respond. Over 40% reported that PNES has been part of …

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Psychiatry and Psychology are dropping the ball when it comes to psychogenic non epileptic seizures

Dr. Selim Benbadis published an excellent editorial article in the Neuropsychiatry Journal this year in which he called out both the American Psychological and American Psychiatric Association for the absence of information about Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (conversion disorders) they have on their sites. He pointed out that both associations have a plethora of mental health …

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Could Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy be useful in treating psychogenic non-epileptic seizures?

Up to 90% of patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) report histories of significant trauma (often childhood sexual and physical abuse).  If we compare with control groups and the general US population, we find that in fact, patients with psychogenic non epileptic seizures have suffered more abuse than these other groups.   As for post-traumatic stress …

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Talking about psychogenic non epileptic seizures in Guadalajara, Mexico

Last week, I was invited to the Third International Neuropsychology conference in Guadalajara on Rehabilitation and Epilepsy. It gave me a wonderful opportunity to talk about a little known condition that is actually quite common in epilepsy centers: psychogenic non epileptic seizures.  The conference had drawn 500 attendees (psychology students, neuropsychologists and neurologists from all …

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Psychogenic non epileptic seizures: When life throws you a hurricane

These last two weeks have been stressful for anyone who lives in the Northeast (USA). Understandably, the news has been the main topic for all my patients with psychogenic seizures.  And I admit it, even this psychologist was rattled. Two earthquakes 5 days apart (note that our last earthquake was around 100 years ago), a …

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The stigma of psychogenic non epileptic seizures (PNES) is still with us

The topic for this month’s post came to me after finding a thread of comments made by emergency medical professionals (EMPs) about psychogenic non epileptic seizures (http://www.emtlife.com/showthread.php?p=299085).  It was saddening to read how EMPs talked about how they are often berated by hospital staff for bringing in patients with non epileptic seizures. I hope reading …

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