psychogenic seizure

psy·cho·gen·ic sei·zure

a clinical spell that resembles an epileptic seizure, but is not due to epilepsy. The EEG is normal during an attack, and the behavior is often related to psychiatric disturbance, such as a conversion disorder.

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

psychogenic seizure

A specific type of seizure regarded as a conversion symptom, which occurs when a person cannot directly express distress; patients are not consciously aware of the conversion symptoms, nor do they intentionally produce them. The seizures may be accompanied by somatic symptoms, which serve several purposes for the patient—e.g., communication, secondary gain, conflict resolution, expression of hostility and others.

Clinical findings
Frequent seizures despite therapeutic levels of anti-epileptic medication, prolonged duration (more than 5 minutes), wild movements, pelvic thrusting, fluctuating intensity, resolution of symptoms with distraction, nonphysiologic spread of symptoms, crying, bilateral motor activity with preserved consciousness, lack of post-ictal confusion or lethargy.

Prognosis
• Good—if female, of higher intelligence, independent lifestyle, no prior psychotherapy, normal EEG.
• Poor—if accompanied by epilepsy or seizure activity, history of psychiatric disorders, unemployed.

Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

psychogenic seizure

Hysterical fit, nonepileptic seizure A seizure regarded as a conversion Sx, seen when a person cannot directly express mental stress Clinical Frequent seizures despite adequate antiepileptic medication, prolonged duration–> 5 mins, wild movements, pelvic thrusting, fluctuating intensity, resolution of Sx with distraction, nonphysiologic spread of Sx, crying, bilateral motor activity with preserved consciousness, lack of post-ictal confusion or lethargy Prognosis Good, if ♀, of higher IQ, independent lifestyle, no prior psychotherapy, normal EEG; poor, if accompanied by seizures, Hx of psychiatric disorders, unemployed.

McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.