Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures that are easily confused with epilepsy in clinical practice

  One of the clinical features of epilepsy is the recurrent seizure nature, and there are numerous clinical seizure disorders involving multiple systems throughout the body. In recent years, many scholars have proposed the concept of nonepileptic seizures, by which is meant paroxysmal clinical seizures not accompanied by EEG epileptiform discharges. The current tendency is to divide nonepileptic seizures into two categories, namely, psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and somatic nonepileptic seizures. Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are mainly due to psychogenic or psychiatric factors, and the following seizures are common: I. Pseudoseizures (hysteria) 1. There are often obvious psychiatric or psychological factors before the seizure; 2. They are manifested as various somatic symptom attacks, various sensory or motor disorders; 3. They can be accompanied by anxiety, tension, fear or other psychiatric factors; 4. They are prolonged, clear, without tongue bite or incontinence; 5. No epileptic discharges or seizure characteristics on EEG; 6. Anti-epileptic drug therapy is ineffective, and psychological suggestion or anti-anxiety therapy is effective; 7. A small number of epileptic patients can have a combination of such seizures.  The seizures are usually preceded by mental factors, such as crying, fright, anger, etc.; followed by breath-holding during expiration; 3. The face is purple or pale, and there may be urinary incontinence; 4. A small number of children may have limb twitching, generalized tonicity, or even loss of consciousness; 5. The seizure duration is short, usually less than 1 minute; 6.  Affective cross-legged seizures are mostly seen in 1-3 years old girls; 2. The two lower limbs are crossed and rubbed up and down during the seizure; 3.  Fourth, non-epileptic tonic seizures 1, common in infancy, mostly stop within 1 year of age; 2, onset when awake, can be manifested as staring, clenching teeth, stretching neck and shaking head, etc.; 3, clear consciousness.  In conclusion, in the differential diagnosis of epilepsy clinically, attention should be paid to history taking, questioning patients and witnesses to understand whether there are aura before seizure, seizure characteristics and post-seizure situation. Repeated EEG examinations or video EEG monitoring should be performed several times if necessary. For frequent seizures that cannot be characterized, a proposed diagnosis can be made; antiepileptic drugs are selected for treatment and observation. Seizures respond well to drug therapy, whereas psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are ineffective.