Which psychogenic nonepileptic seizure (PNES) patients are more likely to be treated with anti-seizure medications?

BACKGROUND: The average time for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) diagnosis is about 7.5 years. Many patients receive inadequate treatment and sometimes even life-threatening treatments such as tracheal intubation during this time. PURPOSE: To determine the risk factors for misdiagnosis of PNES as Epilepsy. METHODS: The medical records of patients who underwent video-electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring were reviewed retrospectively. Patients who had PNES without epileptic seizures (ES) were included in this study. Baseline personal and monitoring characteristics were collected. The patients were then divided into two groups based on their therapeutic status. Patients in the treatment group were again divided into two groups based on the number of anti-seizure medications (ASM) they were treated with. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients diagnosed with PNES were included in this study. Thirty-seven patients were under treatment, and 20 patients were not under treatment at the time of monitoring. Motor seizures, abnormal interictal EEG patterns, and pathological brain imaging findings were more frequent among patients in the treatment group (p<0.05). Patients with motor seizures were more likely to be treated with multiple ASM than patients with only dialeptic nonmotor seizures (p<0.05). Lastly, patients in the treatment group were monitored longer and had fewer seizures during monitoring (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: PNES patients with abnormal EEG patterns and pathological brain imaging findings are more likely to be treated with ASM. The pure dialeptic nature of seizures is less likely to be misdiagnosed as ES. In addition, patients with such seizures are less likely to be treated with multiple treatment lines.

Papel del servicio de prevención en el diagnóstico de la patología mental para una adecuada integración laboral / Role of the prevention service in the diagnosis of mental pathology for an adequate occupational integration

Las enfermedades mentales tienen especial relevancia tanto por su elevada prevalencia en el momento actual como por sus consecuencias en diferentes ámbitos de la vida. En este artículo se presenta un caso clínico de un trabajador diagnosticado de trastorno conversivo que es evaluado por parte del servicio de prevención con el fin de establecer la aptitud laboral. El conocimiento de la clínica, diagnóstico y abordaje de estos trastornos conjunta y coordinadamente por el servicio de prevención de riesgos labores, mandos directos y otros especialistas es el pilar fundamental para conseguir una adecuada adaptación del puesto de trabajo, así como una integración laboral siempre que se cumplan las restricciones especificadas en el informe de aptitud. (AU)

Mental illnesses are particularly relevant both because of their high prevalence at the present time and because of their consequences in different areas of life. This article presents a clinical case of a worker diagnosed with conversion disorder who is evaluated by the prevention service in order to establish work aptitude. Knowledge of the clinic, diagnosis and approach to these joint and coordinated disorders by the occupational risk prevention service, direct managers and other specialists is the fundamental pillar to achieve an adequate adaptation of the job, as well as labor integration whenever the restrictions specified in the suitability report are met. (AU)

Inhibition of HIF-1α-AQP4 axis ameliorates brain edema and neurological functional deficits in a rat controlled cortical injury (CCI) model.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important cause of death in young adults and children. Till now, the treatment of TBI in the short- and long-term complications is still a challenge. Our previous evidence implied aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) might be potential targets for TBI. In this study, we explored the roles of AQP4 and HIF-1α on brain edema formation, neuronal damage and neurological functional deficits after TBI using the controlled cortical injury (CCI) model. The adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham and TBI group, the latter group was further divided into neutralized-AQP4 antibody group, 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME2) group, and their corresponding control, IgG and isotonic saline groups, respectively. Brain edema was examined by water content. Hippocampal neuronal injury was assessed by neuron loss and neuronal skeleton related protein expressions. Spatial learning and memory deficits were evaluated by Morris water maze test and memory-related proteins were detected by western blot. Our data showed that increased AQP4 protein level was closely correlated with severity of brain edema after TBI. Compared with that in the control group, both blockage of AQP4 with neutralized-AQP4 antibody and inhibition of HIF-1α with 2-ME2 for one-time treatment within 30-60 min post TBI significantly ameliorated brain edema on the 1st day post-TBI, and markedly alleviated hippocampal neuron loss and spatial learning and memory deficits on the 21st day post-TBI. In summary, our preliminary study revealed the short-term and long-term benefits of targeting HIF-1α-AQP4 axis after TBI, which may provide new clues for the selection of potential therapeutic targets for TBI in clinical practice.

The auditory startle response in relation to outcome in functional movement disorders.

BACKGROUND: The auditory startle reflex (ASR) is enlarged in patients with functional movement disorders (FMD). OBJECTIVES: To study whether the ASR relates to symptom reduction in FMD patients, who participated in a placebo controlled double blind treatment trial with Botulinum Neurotoxin (BoNT). METHODS: Response to treatment in the BoNT study was assessed using the Clinical Global Impression - Improvement scale (CGI-I). The electromyography (EMG) muscle activity of 7 muscles following 110 dB tones was measured in 14 FMD patients before and after one-year treatment and compared to 11 matched controls. The early and a late (behaviorally affected) component of the ASR and the sympathetic skin response (SSR) were assessed. RESULTS: 10 of 14 patients (71.4%) showed symptom improvement, which was believed to be mainly caused by placebo effects. The early total response probability of the ASR at baseline tended to be larger in patients compared to controls (p = 0.08), but normalized at follow-up (p = 0.84). The late total response probability was larger in patients vs. controls at baseline (p < 0.05), a trend that still was present at follow-up (p = 0.08). The SSR was higher in patients vs. controls at baseline (p < 0.01), and normalized at follow-up (p = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: On a group level 71.4% of the patients showed clinical symptom improvement after treatment. The early part of the ASR, most likely reflecting anxiety and hyperarousal, normalized in line with the clinical improvement. Interestingly, the augmented late component of the ASR remained enlarged suggesting persistent altered behavioral processing in functional patients despite motor improvement.

[A patient diagnosed with conversion disorder who did not respond to therapy]. / Een patiënte met de diagnose conversiestoornis die niet verbeterde.

A 61-year-old woman with a conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder) was referred by her neurologist to the outpatient psychiatric clinic for medically unexplained somatic symptoms. She did not respond well to our treatment, which we initially related to a comorbid mood disorder. Eventually, a progression of both motor and cognitive symptoms were found to be consistent with corticobasal degeneration, a rare neurodegenerative disorder. This case report illustrates the importance of a revised neurological examination when a patient with conversion disorder does not improve.

Serotonin Transporter Gene (SLC6A4) Polymorphism May Be Associated with Chinese Globus Pharyngeus and Its Antidepressant Effects.

BACKGROUND: Although globus pharyngeus is not rare in clinical practice, little is known about its associated gene polymorphism. We investigated the association between the SLC6A4 polymorphism and globus pharyngeus and its response to treatment with antidepressants. METHODS: A total of 84 patients were diagnosed with globus pharyngeus according to Rome III, and 160 healthy controls were genotyped for the SLC6A4 polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction amplification and agarose gel electrophoresis. All patients with globus were studied using high-resolution manometry pre-therapy. Globus patients were randomized into paroxetine or amitriptyline groups for a 6-week treatment and asked to complete the following pre- and post-therapy questionnaires: the Glasgow Edinburgh Throat Scale (GETS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Hamilton Rating Scale Anxiety/Depression. Treatment response was defined as a >50% reduction in the GETS scores. RESULTS: A significant difference was observed in the globus S/S genotype with anxiety compared to that without anxiety (χ2 = 14.579, p = 0.006). The L/S genotype showed a significant difference between high upper esophageal sphincter pressure (>104 mm Hg) and non-high upper esophageal sphincter pressure patients (χ2 = 14.433, p = 0.006). A significant association between the S/S genotype and the response to antidepressant treatment was also observed, while patients with sleep disorders or depression showed no association. CONCLUSION: A significant association was observed between the S/S genotype of the SLC6A4 polymorphism and globus pharyngeus, suggesting that SLC6A4 is a potential candidate gene involved in the pathogenesis of globus pharyngeus.

Síndrome do sotaque estrangeiro psicogênico: relato de caso / Psychogenic foreign accent syndrome: a case report

Introdução: A Síndrome do Sotaque Estrangeiro (SSE) é uma alteração da parte central do sistema nervoso, cuja manifestação principal é uma afasia que mimetiza foneticamente o sotaque de determinado idioma. Objetivos: Abordar a manifestação dessa síndrome secundária à causa psicogênica. Casuística e Métodos:Este estudo tratará do relato de caso de Síndrome do Sotaque Estrangeiro psicogênica e irá discutir os contrastes com a Síndrome do Sotaque Estrangeiro clássica. Resultados:A paciente deste relato procurou atendimento de saúde em virtude de cefaleia e se apresentou durante o atendimento com sotaque caracteristicamente hispânico, negando qualquer contato prévio com o idioma. Conclusão: Após inúmeros exames e investigação clínica detalhada, a paciente teve como diagnóstico final SSE psicogênica, secundária a Transtorno Dissociativo Misto, entidade pouco descrita e relatada em arquivos e estudos médicos.

Introduction: The Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS) is a disturbance at thecentral nervous systemexpressed as an aphasia that imitate phonetically the accent of a determined language. Objective:Approach the secondary manifestation of a psychiatry disorder. Patients and Methods: This study will report a case of a Psychogenicand will discuss the contrasts between the classic Foreign Accent Syndrome. Results:the patient of this study sought medicalattentiondue to a headache. During consultation, the patient started speaking with a Hispanic accent. She denied any previous contact with this idiom. Conclusion: After countlesslab exams and a thorough clinic investigation, the patient was diagnosed with psychogenicForeign Accent Syndromesecondary to Dissociative Mixed Disorder, a little known disease andrarely reported in medical studies.

The role of placebo in the diagnosis and treatment of functional neurologic disorders.

Placebo therapy can produce meaningful, clinical relief for a variety of conditions. While placebos are not without their ethically fraught history, they continue to be used, largely covertly, even today. Because the prognosis for psychogenic disorders is often poor and recovery may be highly dependent on the patient's belief in the diagnosis and treatment regimen, some physicians find placebo therapy for psychogenic disorders compelling, but also particularly contentious. Yet placebos also have a long tradition of being used for provocative diagnosis (wherein placebo is used to elicit and/or terminate the symptoms as a way of diagnosing symptoms as "psychogenic"). In this chapter we discuss cases describing placebo as therapy for psychogenic disorders and the challenges related to embedded Cartesian beliefs in Western medicine. The legitimate ethical reservations against placebo therapy, in general, have been related to assumptions about their "inertness" and a requirement for deception, both which are being refuted by emerging data. In this chapter, we also re-evaluate the concerns associated with placebo therapy for psychogenic disorders by asking, "Are we harming patients by withholding placebo treatment?"

Clinical Diagnosis of Mental Disorders Immediately Before and After Cancer Diagnosis: A Nationwide Matched Cohort Study in Sweden.

IMPORTANCE: Psychiatric comorbidities are common among patients with cancer. However, whether or not there is increased risk of mental disorders during the diagnostic workup leading to a cancer diagnosis was unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relative risks of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, somatoform/conversion disorder, and stress reaction/adjustment disorder during the periods before and after cancer diagnosis compared with individuals without cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Nationwide matched cohort study from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2010, in a Swedish population and health registers. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: We estimated the time-varying hazard ratios (HRs) of the first clinical diagnosis of the studied mental disorders from 2 years before cancer diagnosis, through the time of diagnosis, and until 10 years after diagnosis, adjusting for age, sex, calendar period, and educational level. To assess milder mental conditions and symptoms, we further assessed the use of related psychiatric medications for patients with cancer diagnosed during 2008-2009. RESULTS: The study included 304 118 patients with cancer and 3 041 174 cancer-free individuals who were randomly selected from the Swedish population and individually matched to the patients with cancer on year of birth and sex. The median age at diagnosis for the patients with cancer was 69 years, and 46.9% of the patients were female. The relative rate for all studied mental disorders started to increase from 10 months before cancer diagnosis (HR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.1-1.2), peaked during the first week after diagnosis (HR, 6.7; 95% CI, 6.1-7.4), and decreased rapidly thereafter but remained elevated 10 years after diagnosis (HR, 1.1; 95% CI, 1.1-1.2). The rate elevation was clear for all main cancers except nonmelanoma skin cancer and was stronger for cancers of poorer prognosis. Compared with cancer-free individuals, increased use of psychiatric medications was noted from 1 month before cancer diagnosis and peaked around 3 months after diagnosis among patients with cancer. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Patients diagnosed as having cancer had increased risks of several common mental disorders from the year before diagnosis. These findings support the existing guidelines of integrating psychological management into cancer care and further call for extended vigilance for multiple mental disorders starting from the time of the cancer diagnostic workup.

Diagnostic practice of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) in the pediatric setting.

OBJECTIVE: No formal guidelines for diagnosing psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) in children exist, and little is known about the clinical practice of diagnosing PNES in the pediatric setting. We therefore performed a national survey as a first step to document pediatricians' current diagnostic practice for PNES. METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to all pediatricians (n=64) working in the field of neuropediatrics and/or social pediatrics in the Danish hospital setting to uncover their use of terminology and of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes as well as their clinical diagnostic approach to pediatric PNES. The questionnaire included questions on 18 history and 24 paroxysmal event characteristics. RESULTS: The response rate was 95% (61/64). There was no consensus on which terminology and diagnostic codes to use. Five history characteristics (psychosocial stressors/trauma, sexual abuse, paroxysmal events typically occur in stressful situations, no effect of antiepileptic drugs, and physical abuse) and six paroxysmal event characteristics (resisted eyelid opening, avoidance/guarding behavior, paroxysmal events occur in the presence of others, closed eyes, rarely injury related to paroxysmal event, and absence of postictal change) were agreed to be very predictive of PNES by at least 50% of the pediatricians. Supplementary diagnostic tests such as blood chemistry measurements (e.g., blood glucose or acute phase reactants; i.e., white blood cell count and C-reactive protein) and electrocardiography were inconsistently used. Only 49% of the respondents reported to use video-electroencephalography (VEEG) frequently as part of their diagnostic procedure. SIGNIFICANCE: To our knowledge, this is the first national survey that offers a systematic insight into the diagnostic practices for children with PNES in the hospital setting. The results demonstrate a need for clinical guidelines to improve and systematize the diagnostic approach for PNES in children.

Multicenter pilot treatment trial for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: a randomized clinical trial.

IMPORTANCE: There is a paucity of controlled treatment trials for the treatment of conversion disorder, seizures type, also known as psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, the most common conversion disorder, are as disabling as epilepsy and are not adequately addressed or treated by mental health clinicians. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate different PNES treatments compared with standard medical care (treatment as usual). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Pilot randomized clinical trial at 3 academic medical centers with mental health clinicians trained to administer psychotherapy or psychopharmacology to outpatients with PNES. Thirty-eight participants were randomized in a blocked schedule among 3 sites to 1 of 4 treatment arms and were followed up for 16 weeks between September 2008 and February 2012; 34 were included in the analysis. INTERVENTIONS: Medication (flexible-dose sertraline hydrochloride) only, cognitive behavioral therapy informed psychotherapy (CBT-ip) only, CBT-ip with medication (sertraline), or treatment as usual. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Seizure frequency was the primary outcome; psychosocial and functioning measures, including psychiatric symptoms, social interactions, quality of life, and global functioning, were secondary outcomes. Data were collected prospectively, weekly, and with baseline, week 2, midpoint (week 8), and exit (week 16) batteries. Within-group analyses for each arm were performed on primary (seizure frequency) and secondary outcomes from treatment-blinded raters using an intention-to-treat analysis. RESULTS: The psychotherapy (CBT-ip) arm showed a 51.4% seizure reduction (P = .01) and significant improvement from baseline in secondary measures including depression, anxiety, quality of life, and global functioning (P < .001). The combined arm (CBT-ip with sertraline) showed 59.3% seizure reduction (P = .008) and significant improvements in some secondary measures, including global functioning (P = .007). The sertraline-only arm did not show a reduction in seizures (P = .08). The treatment as usual group showed no significant seizure reduction or improvement in secondary outcome measures (P = .19). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This pilot randomized clinical trial for PNES revealed significant seizure reduction and improved comorbid symptoms and global functioning with CBT-ip for PNES without and with sertraline. There were no improvements in the sertraline-only or treatment-as-usual arms. This study supports the use of manualized psychotherapy for PNES and successful training of mental health clinicians in the treatment. Future studies could assess larger-scale intervention dissemination. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00835627.

Concurrent Presentation of Burning Mouth Syndrome and Globus Pharyngis in Enugu, Nigeria: A Ten-year Clinical Evaluation.

PURPOSE: To review 22 patients with globus pharyngis among a group of 39 patients who presented with burning mouth syndrome and to highlight the clinical presentation and treatment outcome of these oropharyngeal symptoms, often ignored by practicing oral surgeons. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We carried out a retrospective review of 39 patients with burning mouth syndrome seen at oral surgery units of three specialist hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria between 2001 and 2010. The focus was on the 22 of these patients with burning mouth syndrome and globus pharyngis (the persistent sensation of having phlegm, a pill or some other sort of obstruction in the throat when there is none). Relevant information included patients' oral habits and dental status, past medical history, sociodemographic data, onset of symptoms and treatment outcome. RESULTS: Amongst the 22 patients, 8 (36.4%) were males while 14 (63.6%) were females, giving a male to female ratio of 1:1.8. Of the 8 male patients, 3 (37.5%) were retrenched workers, 2 (25%) were drug addicts, 2 (25%) had a history of psychiatric problems and 1 (12.5%) had post-radiation therapy due to diagnosis of adenocystic carcinoma. Amongst the 14 female patients, 6 (42.8%) were divorcees, 3 (21.4%) were unemployed and unmarried, 2 (14.3%) had menopausal problems, 2 (14.3%) had dental prostheses and 1 (7.2%) had a history of mental disorder. CONCLUSION: Globus pharyngis can present at the same time in some individuals with burning mouth syndrome. The emotional aetiological factor in this unusual ailment calls for proper examinations and a multidisciplinary approach in the management of patients who presented with burning mouth syndrome, especially with a history of depression.

Semiological characteristics of adults with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs): an attempt towards a new classification.

This study was carried out to analyze the semiological characteristics of adults with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs) and to propose a modified new classification of PNESs. This retrospective analysis included 82 patients (M:F=38:44; mean age: 33.4 ± 12.0 years) diagnosed to have PNESs based on video-EEG recording. Detailed semiological characteristics including pattern of limb movements, body movements, psychological/emotional manifestations, "aura", level of consciousness, age at onset of PNESs, age at diagnosis, and history of AED intake were recorded. We classified our cohort of patients as per available classifications and proposed a modified new classification. Age at onset of PNESs was 21.8 ± 14.1 years (range: 2-64; median: 18.5 years), age at diagnosis was 29.3 ± 12.7 years (range: 2-67; median: 26.0 years), and delay in diagnosis was 7.4 ± 7.3 years (range: 0-28; median: 5.0 years). There were 369 recorded attacks (range: 1-10; median: 4). Prior to VEEG, 47 (57.3%) patients were incorrectly diagnosed as having true epileptic seizures initially and were on antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), 15 (18.3%) patients had an initial diagnosis of PNESs which remained unchanged after VEEG analysis, and 20 (24.4%) patients had both PNESs and epileptic seizures. We could not classify 40-66% of our patients into any of the available classification proposed by previous authors. We categorized all our patients into the following categories of a modified new classification: abnormal hypermotor response: 23 (28%), abnormal partial motor response: 18 (22%), affective/emotional behavior phenomena: 4 (4.9%), dialeptic type: 5 (6.1%), nonepileptic aura: 5 (6.1%), and mixed pattern: 27 (32.9%). Incorrect diagnosis of PNESs leads to unnecessary prescription of AEDs, with side effects and cost implications. A modified systematic classification of PNESs is proposed which would help in the better characterization of PNESs.

Tiagabine-induced stupor in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: nonconvulsive status epilepticus or encephalopathy?

BACKGROUND: Nonconvulsive status epilepticus has been rarely reported with tiagabine (TGB) use. METHODS: We report findings from continuous video-EEG monitoring and serial neurological examinations during prolonged episodes of stupor associated with TGB use in three patients who did not have epilepsy. RESULTS: All three patients had emergence of new type of events after starting TGB treatment. All three patients had gradual decline in responsiveness to verbal stimuli, intermittent twitching of the upper extremities, and urinary incontinence. The corresponding EEG showed gradual build-up of generalized bisynchronous delta-wave activity with subsequent intermingled sharp transients. Two patients did not respond to IV lorazepam, one of whom also did not respond to IV phenytoin. The EEG slowly normalized in conjunction with associated clinical improvement. Habitual seizures were found to be psychogenic, with no interictal evidence for epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Tiagabine-related stupor may represent a form of toxic encephalopathy in some cases rather than nonconvulsive status epilepticus.

[Chronic conversion somatic disorder: a case report]. / Disturbo di conversione somatico cronicizzato.

Conversion disorder is characterized by several neurological and internistical symptoms that cannot be explained by an organic cause, exacerbating after stress events. The course of this disorder is typically short: it usually lasts about two weeks, and only 20-25% of patients relapse in the following year. This paper aims to show the clinical history of a patient complaining conversion symptoms from 7 consecutive years.