Psychiatric and neuropsychological profiles of people with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

Objective This study examined the psychiatric and neuropsychological profiles of people with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Methods Twenty-people who had been diagnosed with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), but not epilepsy, were recruited into this study. A healthy control group was also recruited and was matched for age and gender. All participants underwent structured psychiatric assessment and psychometric assessment. Neuropsychological assessment was carried out using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Battery (CANTAB) after participants passed the Medical Symptom Validity Test (MSVT) of effort. Results One patient failed the MSVT and was excluded from the analysis. Therefore, data from 19 people with PNES and their matched healthy controls were analyzed. Compared with controls, people with PNES had significantly higher levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, dissociative experiences, and alexithymic traits. In addition, people with PNES had impairments in spatial working memory and attention when compared with healthy controls. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study to report that, compared with controls, people with PNES have abnormal cognitive functioning after controlling for effects of effort and FSIQ. People with PNES also have high levels of anxiety, depressive, and dissociative symptoms. In addition, they appear to particularly focus on health problems and show evidence of chronic emotional dysregulation. Further studies are required to replicate our results and to help clarify the pathogenic mechanisms underlying PNES.