Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures: A Diagnostic Problem Difficult to Solve in Clinical Practice

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are defined as episodes of altered movements, sensations, and behaviours that resemble epileptic seizures but that are not associated with abnormal electrical brain discharges. The incidence of PNES in the general population is relatively low (about 1.5/100.000 persons per year), but the data from epilepsy centres show a much higher incidence rate. The identification of this pathological entity has significantly increased in the last years, also thanks to the setting-up of video-electroencephalography. The main challenge for physicians and neurologists is to distinguish PNES from epileptic seizures. The aim of this review was to analyse the clinical aspects and the diagnostic problems of PNES in epileptic patients in order to give practical advices for the identification of this problem and for distinguishing PNES from epileptic seizures. (Arc-hi-ves of Neu-ropsy-chi-atry 2012; 49: 243-247)