TY - JOUR
T1 - Patients’ and caregivers’ contributions for differentiating epileptic from psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Value and limitations of self-reporting questionnaires
T2 - A pilot study
AU - Erba, Giuseppe
AU - Bianchi, Elisa
AU - Giussani, Giorgia
AU - Langfitt, John
AU - Juersivich, Adam
AU - Beghi, Ettore
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - Purpose Questionnaires investigating semiology and comorbidities of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) have been used mainly to help physicians expedite referrals to epilepsy centres for confirmation of diagnosis rather than as alternative diagnostic tool when video-EEG monitoring (VEM), the current gold standard, is not available or is inconclusive. Methods We developed one structured questionnaire for patients, exploring subjective experiences and vulnerabilities and one for eyewitnesses, focused on features observable during typical events to study prospectively 50 consecutive adult patients with PNES or epileptic seizures (ES) admitted for VEM. A list of variables representing specific signs, symptoms and risk factors was obtained from each question. Specificity (SP) and sensitivity (SE) of each variable were calculated analyzing patient's and witness’ responses against the final diagnosis. Statistical significance was assessed using the Fisher's exact test. Results Twenty-eight patients’ questionnaires (17 PNES, 11 ES) were eligible for analysis. Seven variables with high SE and SP, of which 5 statistically significant, emerged as diagnostic predictors. They comprised three historical items: head injury, physical abuse and chronic fatigue; two warning signs: heart racing and tingling or numbness; one triggering sign: headache; one postictal symptom: physical pain. Sixteen witness questionnaires (6 PNES, 10 ES) were available. Side-to-side head movements and eyes closed were the statistically significant variables. Conclusion Pending further refinements, ad hoc questionnaires specifically designed for patients and eyewitnesses, may represent a practical tool for distinguishing ES from PNES in settings without sophisticated facilities or when VEM is inconclusive.
AB - Purpose Questionnaires investigating semiology and comorbidities of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) have been used mainly to help physicians expedite referrals to epilepsy centres for confirmation of diagnosis rather than as alternative diagnostic tool when video-EEG monitoring (VEM), the current gold standard, is not available or is inconclusive. Methods We developed one structured questionnaire for patients, exploring subjective experiences and vulnerabilities and one for eyewitnesses, focused on features observable during typical events to study prospectively 50 consecutive adult patients with PNES or epileptic seizures (ES) admitted for VEM. A list of variables representing specific signs, symptoms and risk factors was obtained from each question. Specificity (SP) and sensitivity (SE) of each variable were calculated analyzing patient's and witness’ responses against the final diagnosis. Statistical significance was assessed using the Fisher's exact test. Results Twenty-eight patients’ questionnaires (17 PNES, 11 ES) were eligible for analysis. Seven variables with high SE and SP, of which 5 statistically significant, emerged as diagnostic predictors. They comprised three historical items: head injury, physical abuse and chronic fatigue; two warning signs: heart racing and tingling or numbness; one triggering sign: headache; one postictal symptom: physical pain. Sixteen witness questionnaires (6 PNES, 10 ES) were available. Side-to-side head movements and eyes closed were the statistically significant variables. Conclusion Pending further refinements, ad hoc questionnaires specifically designed for patients and eyewitnesses, may represent a practical tool for distinguishing ES from PNES in settings without sophisticated facilities or when VEM is inconclusive.
KW - Diagnosis
KW - Epileptic seizures
KW - Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
KW - Questionnaire
KW - Witnesses
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85033406795&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85033406795&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.seizure.2017.11.001
DO - 10.1016/j.seizure.2017.11.001
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85033406795
VL - 53
SP - 66
EP - 71
JO - Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
JF - Seizure : the journal of the British Epilepsy Association
SN - 1059-1311
ER -