Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: Predisposing factors to diminished quality of life

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to examine the factors that contribute to the reports of diminished quality of life (QOL) in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Methods We assessed 62 patients with PNES for quality of life, anger expression and personality, an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epilepsy & behavior 2012-11, Vol.25 (3), p.358-362
Main Authors: Myers, Lorna, Lancman, Martin, Laban-Grant, Olgica, Matzner, Barbara, Lancman, Marcelo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anger
Anger - physiology
Causality
Cognitive ability
Conversion Disorder - epidemiology
Conversion Disorder - psychology
Depression
Electroencephalography
Emotions
Epilepsy
Epilepsy - epidemiology
Epilepsy - psychology
Fatigue
Female
Geriatrics
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neurology
Neuropsychological Tests
Non‐epileptic
Outpatients
Pain
Personality
Personality Inventory
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychogenic seizures
Psychological trauma
Psychophysiologic Disorders - epidemiology
Psychophysiologic Disorders - psychology
Quality of Life
Seizures
Treatment
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Summary:Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to examine the factors that contribute to the reports of diminished quality of life (QOL) in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Methods We assessed 62 patients with PNES for quality of life, anger expression and personality, and psychiatric, social and medical histories. Results Diagnosis of depression, pain syndromes, older age of onset and shorter duration of PNES correlated with poorer quality of life. Elevated anger state, trait and total anger scores correlated with worse quality of life and with Quality of Life in Epilepsy 31 subscales of emotional well-being, medication, cognitive and social effects, seizure worry, and fatigue. Conclusion Our study verifies reported correlations between depression and somatic symptoms and quality of life. A novel finding is that of a relationship between quality of life in PNES and anger expression. This result has important implications for psychotherapeutic treatment of PNES in that it provides a potentially modifiable target.
ISSN:1525-5050
1525-5069
DOI:10.1016/j.yebeh.2012.08.024