Non-epileptic seizures, unlike epileptic seizures, are not caused by abnormal electrical activity in the cerebral cortex. Formerly called pseudoseizures, professionals prefer the term "non-epileptic seizures," as the patients view themselves as having seizures. The Epilepsy Foundation states that up to 20 percent of seizure patients are diagnosed with non-epileptic seizures. Two types of non-epileptic seizures exist: psychogenic seizures and physiological seizures. Both of these non-epileptic seizures have different behaviors when compared to epileptic seizures.
Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures
The first type of non-epileptic seizures, as defined by the Epilepsy Foundation, is psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. Psychogenic seizures are caused by psychological trauma or conflict that impacts the patient's state of mind. The Epilepsy Foundation states that sexual or physical abuse is the leading cause of psychogenic seizures, where the abuse occurred during childhood or more recently; life changes, like death and divorce, is another possible cause of a psychogenic seizure. Selim R. Benbadis, M.D., and Leanne Heriaud, R.N., authors of the article "Psychogenic (Non-Epileptic) Seizures," state that a psychogenic seizure resembles a grand-mal seizure, with generalized convulsions, falling and shaking. Less often, a psychogenic seizure resembles a complex partial seizure, with a temporary loss of attention. Because the causes of psychogenic seizures, the treatment is mental health counseling. The authors note that the prognosis is good, with 60 to 70 percent of patients alleviated of seizure symptoms.
Physiologic Non-Epileptic Seizures
The second type of non-epileptic seizures, as defined by the Epilepsy Foundation, is physiologic non-epileptic seizures. Unlike psychogenic seizures, physiologic seizures are caused by a sudden change in brain function, such as a metabolic disturbance. Examples of medical causes of physiologic seizures include hypoglycemia, hypoatremia, cardiac arrhythmia, brain lesions, syncopal episodes, migraines and transient ischemic attacks; the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke adds that narcolepsy and Tourette syndrome are other possible causes of physiologic seizures. Differentiating physiologic seizures and epileptic seizures can be difficult, so medical assessment and careful monitoring is needed.
Differing Non-Epileptic Behaviors
The Epilepsy Foundation adds that non-epileptic seizures have behavioral symptoms that differ greatly from epileptic seizures. In psychogenic seizures, the patient will have the seizure when other people are around; this is not the case with epileptic seizures, where the seizure will occur whether or not people are in the room. Psychogenic seizures are also unique from epileptic seizures as patients cry or shriek during the seizure, have a brief recovery period and display unusual posturing and sexual behaviors.
