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Chapter 9 - Nonepileptic Spells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2019

By
Tasleema Khan  and
Selim Benbadis
Edited by
Vibhangini S. Wasade  and
Marianna V. Spanaki
Vibhangini S. Wasade
Affiliation:
Henry Ford Medical Group HFHS, Michigan
Marianna V. Spanaki
Affiliation:
Wayne State University, Michigan
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Summary

Seizures and epilepsy are frequently misdiagnosed. Only about 50% of patients transferred to ICUs in tertiary hospitals after presumed status epilepticus are found to have status epilepticus.1 About 90% of those misdiagnosed with epilepsy actually have psychogenic nonepileptic event (PNEE).2 There are many other disorders misdiagnosed as epilepsy, organic and nonorganic, seen in adults and children. This chapter discusses the common differential diagnoses for epilepsy in hopes of making recognition of epilepsy imitators easier. As with any disorder, misdiagnosis delays the appropriate treatment needed to provide relief to the patient. In PNEE, a completely different therapeutic approach is needed (versus epileptic seizures), including psychotherapy and psychotropic medications. Antiseizure drugs (ASDs) used in those who do not need them place an unnecessary risk of common and rare side effects.

Type
Chapter
Information
Understanding Epilepsy
A Study Guide for the Boards
 , pp. 176 - 188
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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