A study of nonepileptic seizures in an Indian population

✍ Scribed by J.P. Lazarus; M. Bhatia; G. Shukla; M.V. Padma; M. Tripathi; A.K. Shrivastava; M.B. Singh; R. Sagar; S. Jain

• Book ID: 117793534
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 84 KB
• Volume: 4
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1525-5050
• DOI: 10.1016/s1525-5050(03)00118-5

✦ Synopsis

Objective. The goal of this study was to evaluate the background and the clinical profile of nonepileptic seizures (NESs) confirmed by short-term video encephalography (ST-VEEG) recording in an Indian population.

Methods. Seventy-one patients with NESs were enrolled. A complete history was taken and the recorded event was reviewed to define the ictal events. Patients were divided into two groups, Group 1 with a paucity of movements and Group 2 with an excess of movement, and results were analyzed.

Results. The mean age was 22.9 (9.6); there were 15 males (21.1%) and 56 females (78.9%). Twenty-four patients (33.8%) were receiving antiepileptic drugs. The majority of the patients (42, 59.1%) were students. All patients were amnesic for the event and were unresponsive during the event. The other characteristics were similar events in 98.6%, hyperventilation in 58 (81.7%). Forty-two patients (59.2%) were in Group 1 and 29 patients (40.8%) were in Group 2.

Conclusion. NES is a disease of the young and can affect the student or professional. A wrong diagnosis can result in inappropriate treatment. Awareness of this entity is critical to ensuring prompt diagnosis and early intervention.