Psychogenic seizures mimicking juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: case reports

Seizure. 2001 Apr;10(3):208-11. doi: 10.1053/seiz.2000.0488.

Abstract

We describe two patients with psychogenic seizures of rare semiology. Both patients (a 23-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman) attended the emergency department because status epilepticus with myoclonic seizures had been diagnosed. Seizures were documented with video-electroencephalography. Semiology of seizures were brief myoclonia of both arms resulting in a short elevation of both arms without impairment of consciousness. Ictal EEG registration was without abnormal finding. Psychiatric diagnostic assessment suggested a dissociative disorder and mild depression, respectively. During psychiatric treatment seizures occurred only rarely within a 3-5 months follow-up. One should be aware that juvenile myoclonic epilepsy may be mimicked by psychogenic seizures

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticonvulsants / administration & dosage
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diagnostic Errors*
  • Dissociative Disorders / diagnosis
  • Electroencephalography*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile / diagnosis*
  • Myoclonic Epilepsy, Juvenile / physiopathology
  • Seizures / diagnosis
  • Seizures / physiopathology
  • Seizures / psychology*
  • Status Epilepticus / diagnosis*
  • Status Epilepticus / physiopathology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants