Anxiety is a serious problem for most patients who have psychogenic non epileptic seizures. Why? Genetics and environment are both likely contributors. Anxious traits can be inherited. In addition, having experienced a painful history (which is common in most persons with PNES) that was not successfully dealt with leaves many with PNES poorly equipped to …
Some think that because psychogenic non epileptic seizures are “psychological” that they somehow have less of an impact on life. But for many who have PNES, it can feel like a prison (see picture of handcuffs). PNES has some very real emotional and physical effects and the potential to affect the finances and independence of …
Psychogenic non epileptic seizures (PNES) can disrupt life in a multitude of ways Read More »
Research shows that a very high number of persons with PNES have suffered abuse in the past (see past blog posts). And experiences of abuse go along with distress and fear. So, PNES is commonly seen as fueled by anxiety and fear by clinicians. However, I am sure you have heard of the “fight or …
Psychogenic non epileptic seizures and anger: target for treatment Read More »
In a 2005 article in Epilepsy and Behavior Journal Bewley et. al. reported that just over 90% of PNES sufferers scored positive for “Alexithymia.” What is alexithymia? It is a difficulty: 1) Identifying your own feelings 2) Distinguishing between emotional feelings and the bodily sensations that go along with emotion. 3) Describing feelings to other …
Psychogenic non epileptic seizures: difficulties in reading emotions accurately Read More »
According to an article by PNES specialist, Dr. Marcus Reuber (2008), 90% of PNES sufferers have a history of trauma. Not surprisingly, many present with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This means that they have intrusive symptoms (e.g. nightmares, memories), avoidance behavior (of reminders), and hyperarousal symptoms (e.g. startle response, hypervigilance for danger). Research …
Yes, but… There are a myriad of factors that can affect the prognosis (whether the outcome will be good or bad). What are some of the factors we know support a good prognosis? 1) The sooner the right diagnosis is made. That avoids the condition becoming chronic and the suffering. But on average patients spend …
Is there a treatment for psychogenic non epileptic seizures? Read More »
Recently, I have been reading a lot about quality of life in PNES so that is what I am going to write about today. Two years ago, as part of a research project that our group presented as a poster at the American Epilepsy Society in which we compared self-reports of quality of life in …
Why do patients with psychogenic non epileptic seizures have such poor quality of life? Read More »
It does actually. The idea for today’s blog post came to me after one of my patients had several episodes right after getting some very good news. She was confused as was her family about why this happened. This led to our talking about different kinds of stress and we were able to make sense …
So, for those who dismiss PNES as something that is “just psychological,” don’t be so hasty. The fact that it is psychological does not mean it does not have some very real consequences.
If we spend our energy avoiding, we miss so many moments in our life, we end up being mindless rather than mindful. Mindfulness and psychotherapy of psychogenic non epileptic seizures aim to shift the balance the other way.
