In March of 2011, I blogged about an important topic: what is the proper name for “psychogenic seizures.” Recently, there has been a renewed interest in how we call this condition. In particular, the question that has arisen is whether the word “seizures” should be in the label. In addition, there are a number of […]
This weekend, I was reading a paper by Dr. Gaston Baslet and his colleagues (Treatment of Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: Updated review and findings from our mindfulness-based intervention case series, 2014 Clinical EEG and Neuroscience). On page 9 the authors discuss something that was not the main topic of the paper, but that struck me as worthy
Challenges in the management of Psychogenic seizures: Are we playing a role in this? Read More »
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Lorax quote-Dr. Seuss This simple quote is powerful because it is true. Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures represent a grave health condition that is still sorely understudied and understood. This condition often wreaks havoc on the lives of those afflicted
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: What are your 2015 resolutions? Read More »
The condition of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures has for a very long time been a bit of an orphan in the health field. It can take up to seven years on average to receive the right diagnosis and even once it is made, too often the patients experience a “ping pong effect” of being referred from
What literature can be found about psychogenic seizures on-line, in medical journals, and even in the book I published earlier this year (Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: A Guide) is written about PNES from a professionals’ perspective. In these writings, the person with PNES is described and examined by the professional onlooker and as such are SUBJECTS
Over the summer, I was reading a book authored by Dr. Michael Trimble “Why Humans Like to Cry: Tragedy, Evolution, and the Brain.” For someone who is seeking to understand how psychogenic non-epileptic seizures occur, the research he discusses in the book is intriguing. The research he cites offers a sound and reasonable explanation of
A month ago, we were still in the throes of planning our first conference on psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). We had PNES brochures printed up, we had ordered many copies of “Psychogenic non-epileptic Seizures: A Guide” to give out at the registration desk, we had purple and teal charms ready, and all our speakers were
A historic meeting in Mahwah, NJ shines a light on psychogenic non-epileptic seizures Read More »
My name is JJ and I am 22. My seizures have been a sporadic problem since I was 13. They really became a problem December 2013. I had quit drinking in September, I later discovered my alcoholism was suppressing my seizures. My seizures became unbearable, I was unable to do the things I used
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: Love and Light Read More »
Patients diagnosed with PNES sometimes share with me that they have encountered people who seem to think that they should be able to stop the seizures by somehow willing them away. Those who hold this erroneous belief are not only from the general public but also health professionals (e.g. emergency medical personnel, doctors and nurses
Why can’t you just stop having these Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNESs)? Read More »
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
