Psychological Problems and Clinical Outcomes of Children with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures.
10.3349/ymj.2014.55.6.1556
- Author:
Yoon Young YI
1
;
Heung Dong KIM
;
Joon Soo LEE
;
Keun Ah CHEON
;
Hoon Chul KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Seizure;
children;
psychological
- MeSH:
Adolescent;
Adult;
Anxiety/epidemiology;
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity/epidemiology;
Child;
Child, Preschool;
Comorbidity;
Depression/epidemiology;
Depressive Disorder/epidemiology/psychology;
Electroencephalography;
Female;
Humans;
Male;
Mental Disorders/*diagnosis/epidemiology/*psychology;
Middle Aged;
Psychophysiologic Disorders/*diagnosis/*psychology;
Psychotherapy;
Retrospective Studies;
Seizures/diagnosis/*psychology/*therapy;
Treatment Outcome;
Young Adult
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2014;55(6):1556-1561
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Our purpose was to investigate psychological problems and clinical outcomes in children with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 25 patients who were diagnosed with PNES between 2006 and 2012. RESULTS: Twenty-five children with PNES, aged 8 to 19 years (mean 13.82), were referred to psychiatrists for psychiatric assessment. On their initial visit, 72% of patients had comorbid psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, conduct disorder, adjustment disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Among these, depression was the most frequent (36%). Predisposing and triggering factors included familial distress (40%), social distress (24%), and specific events (20%). The following treatment was advised based on the results of the initial psychological assessment: 3 patients regularly visited psychiatric clinic to assess their clinical status without treatment, nine underwent psychotherapy, and 13 received a combination of psychotherapy and psychopharmacological therapy. At the mean follow-up of 31.5 months after diagnosis, 20 patients (80%) were event-free at follow-up, three (12%) showed reduced frequency, and two (8%) experienced persistent symptoms. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of PNES in children are much better than those in adults, despite a high rate of psychological comorbidities.
