Abandoning the term “psychogenic nonepileptic seizures” (PNES) in favor of “functional (dissociative) seizures” or simply “functional seizures” needs to be examined. We need to consider possible unintended negative consequences of this name change. My sense of urgency comes from a troubling scenario I foresee. Read on and feel free to challenge me on this or […]
Choosing “functional seizures” over PNES: what might happen Read More »
A recent ILAE Task Force proposal (Hingray et al., 2025) recommends replacing the term “psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES)” with “functional/dissociative seizures (F/DS)” arguing that some experts feel that PNES lacks acceptability and that many patients reject it. Which Experts?It is unclear what experts the authors are referring to since the Task Force did not consult
The nonepileptic seizure Blog has invited author, Linda McClure, to tell us about her book “Mind Games.” It walks the reader through the experience of living with epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), also known as functional/dissociative seizures. This is a unique group of patients, often excluded from research and that can be difficult to
Functional Seizures and Epilepsy: My dual diagnosis Read More »
Hello everyone,My name is Matina Alexis, and I’m so grateful to be here. I live with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES), and I’m still in the process of healing. I continue to experience seizures, and through my diagnosis, I uncovered the deeper cause: repressed childhood trauma. I once believed I had already faced and understood my
Announcement: new poetry book by a young person living with PNES Read More »
More often than not, when I first meet my patients, it is evident that most of their lifetimes, self-care has been left by the wayside. My patients have been surviving, working hard, taking care of others, basically treading water for years. And this has shortchanged them in the process. As could be expected, at some
The three items listed in the title of this blog post might seem unrelated but they were part of an article that was published last month. The article drew some useful and thought-provoking conclusions that might be useful for clinicians working with PNES. The study described in “Characteristics of patients diagnosed with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
Driving, depression, and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) Read More »
Several times a month, I receive inquiries from psychotherapists who are working with their very first patient diagnosed with PNES or who have run into something unexpected. These therapists have shown initiative by taking to the internet to find resources, which is a great sign. Somehow, they managed to come upon my name and email.
I like a lot of things about the summer months including the warmer weather, the longer days, the fact that New York City becomes less crowded, traveling, and sitting or lying outside resting and catching some sunrays. But what I especially enjoy about the summer is that I get to read the books that have
PNES Poem by Nita Dholakia To wake up in the morning is what I wish Waking up in the afternoon is my truth Morning or afternoon, getting up is my win Relaxed and peaceful sleep is now my dream Jolts and jerks with silent grunting Screaming from annoying pain My new routine is not plain
Every year, all profits from the sale of “Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: A guide” are donated to Epilepsy Alliance America, a wonderful foundation that hosts the Lorna Myers PNES Scholarship. This award is offered to any person living in the USA and who has a diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. The money that is granted can
Join me in congratulating the 2023 Lorna Myers PNES Scholarship awardees! Read More »
