Treating the underlying psychological cause can often help to reduce the number of seizures or prevent them happening.
It is easy to misdiagnose the condition as the symptoms are very similar to those of epilepsy, but this will result in the wrong treatment approach.
In this article, learn more about the causes and symptoms of pseudoseizures, as well as the treatment options.
What is a pseudoseizure?
A pseudoseizure is a type of nonepileptic seizure that results from psychological conditions rather than brain function.
There are many types of seizure, which can range in severity from mild to a medical emergency. They fall into two general categories: epileptic and nonepileptic.
Doctors will diagnose someone who is experiencing epileptic seizures as having epilepsy, which is a condition that causes frequent bouts of seizures.
Typical epileptic seizures occur when a sudden electrical disturbance in the nerve cells in the brain causes the person to lose control of their body. The muscles in the body may jerk or seize up uncontrollably, and the person may also lose consciousness.
Nonepileptic seizures are seizures that occur in someone who does not have epilepsy.
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, pseudoseizures are common. Research shows that about 20 percent of people who attend epilepsy centers for electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring are having pseudoseizures rather than epileptic seizures.
Diagnosing pseudoseizures can be difficult. It is rare that a doctor is present to witness a seizure and the symptoms that the individual describes will often match those of an epileptic seizure.
In many cases, a doctor will incorrectly diagnose a person with epilepsy and only consider pseudoseizures once the person does not respond to epilepsy medications.
Anyone who frequently has seizures that do not respond to epilepsy medication may need to stay in a specialty care unit to do video-EEG monitoring.
An EEG records and monitors a person’s brain activity on video, so that when they have a seizure, doctors have all the information they need to diagnose the condition.
If the EEG shows that there is no abnormal firing of neurons in the brain, the person may have PNES rather than epilepsy. The doctors will also watch the video of the seizure to look for any physical clues.
It often takes a team of psychologists, psychiatrists, and neurologists working together to diagnose and treat PNES.
Specialists can help identify any underlying psychological stress or conditions that could be triggering the pseudoseizures.
Treatment
Treatment for pseudoseizures varies considerably and will often focus on managing the symptoms of any mental health conditions or other stress factors.
In general, some treatments that may be effective for treating PNES include:
- individual or family counseling
- cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- relaxation techniques
- behavioral therapy
- eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, for traumatic memories
- antidepressants
- medications for underlying psychological issues
A psychiatrist will usually carry out a formal assessment to help determine the source of the trauma, disorder, or stress. They can then recommend medications or therapy specific to the underlying condition.
Working with a counselor, psychiatrist, or another licensed therapist is a vital part of treatment. Therapy can help people to identify the trauma or stresses affecting them and to learn new coping methods.
Prevention
There is no direct way to stop pseudoseizures from happening, but taking steps to treat any underlying mental health conditions may help to prevent them.
Anyone who is dealing with trauma from the past should consider going to counseling or therapy to develop positive methods to approach the issue. These may include relaxation practices, thought exercises, or other therapies.
Outlook
Anyone who is experiencing seizures but is not responding to epilepsy medications should speak to a doctor. These symptoms may be due to pseudoseizures, which require an entirely different treatment strategy.
There is no simple cure for pseudoseizures, but treating any underlying psychological conditions can help to reduce symptoms. Psychotherapy, medications, or counseling can help people to address any trauma and stress that could be causing the pseudoseizures.
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