This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.
Abstract
Background and objective: The diagnosis of psychogenic seizures (pseudoseizures) may be difficult and usually rests on video-EEG monitoring. We observed that pseudoseizures often arise out of a state that we termed preictal pseudosleep. The objective of this study was to investigate this potential new sign in pseudoseizures. Methods: We prospectively studied all patients who underwent noninvasive monitoring over a 10-month period. Patients were monitored for a duration of 1 to 19 days (mean 4.9), and were divided into two groups: pseudoseizures and epileptic seizures. Patients with both conditions were excluded. Preictal pseudosleep was defined as a state that resembled normal sleep by behavioral criteria alone (i.e. patient motionless and eyes closed), while EEG showed evidence of wakefulness (alpha rhythm, active EMG, and rapid eye movement). This state had to be sustained for at least 1 minute before clinical onset. Results: Patients had 1 to 25 (mean 7) clinical events recorded. Preictal pseudosleep was seen in 10 of 18 patients with pseudoseizures and in none of 39 patients with epileptic seizures, yielding a sensitivity of 56% and a specificity of 100% for pseudoseizures. Conclusion: Because of a high specificity, preictal pseudosleep may be a useful adjunctive finding to support the diagnosis of pseudoseizures.
NEUROLOGY 1996;47: 63-67
- Copyright 1996 by Advanstar Communications Inc.
AAN Members
We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.
AAN Non-Member Subscribers
Purchase access
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
You must ensure that your Disclosures have been updated within the previous six months. Please go to our Submission Site to add or update your Disclosure information.
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
