What Are Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES)?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentCoping

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Causes

Treatment

Coping

Close

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are a condition in which someone experiences physical symptoms associated with epileptic seizures, but the cause of these symptoms has no physiological basis.

PNES is often misdiagnosed asepilepsydue to its similarity in physical characteristics.However, it is important to note that PNES does not involve abnormal electrical activity in the brain like an epileptic seizure; instead, its cause lies within psychological issues.

It is important for individuals experiencing PNES to receive an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment, which may involve psychotherapy, medication, lifestyle changes, or a combination of these treatments.

Other names for PNES include psychogenic seizures, pseudoseizures, functional seizures, and non-epileptic events.Although PNES can cause physical symptoms similar to epileptic seizures, it is not a form of epilepsy or a result ofneurological damage. Conditions associated with PNES may include anxiety, depression,posttraumatic stress disorder, ordissociative disorders.

Symptoms of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES)

Below is a list of some common symptoms associated with PNES:

If you experience any of these symptoms regularly, it is important to seek medical attention from your doctor to obtain an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment.

Diagnosis of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES)

Due to the similarity in physical characteristics of PNES and epileptic seizures, it can be difficult to diagnose. To accurately diagnose PNES, doctors must rule out other possible causes of the symptoms. This may include performing a physical examination, taking a medical history, or ordering anEEGor brain scan to observe electrical activity in the brain.

It is important for individuals living with PNES to receive an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment plan to manage their condition effectively.

Causes of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES)

The cause of PNES is not as yet fully understood, but recent research suggests that it can be attributed to psychological and emotional stressors such as trauma, depression, or anxiety.

Below is a list of some possible underlying causes:

Can Stress Cause Seizures?

Treatment for Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES)

Treatment for PNES typically involves a combination of therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes. Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

Types of Psychotherapy

Coping With Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES)

Living with PNES can be a challenging experience, and it is important to develop strategies for managing symptoms and reducing the frequency of seizures.

Here are a few tips to help you cope with your condition:

By taking steps to manage your condition, you can improve your quality of life and work towards living a healthier, more fulfilling life.

10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Huff JS, Murr N.Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441871/Devinsky O, Gazzola D, LaFrance WC Jr.Differentiating between nonepileptic and epileptic seizures.Nat Rev Neurol. 2011;7(4):210-220. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2011.24International League Against Epilepsy.By any other name: What to call psychogenic non-epileptic seizures?Auxéméry Y, Hubsch C, Fidelle G.Crises psychogènes non épileptiques. Revue de la littérature[Psychogenic non epileptic seizures: a review].Encephale. 2011;37(2):153-158. doi:10.1016/j.encep.2010.04.009National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Functional Neurologic Disorder.Bajestan SN, LaFrance WC Jr.Clinical Approaches to Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2016;14(4):422-431. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20160020Bakvis P, Spinhoven P, Giltay EJ, et al.Basal hypercortisolism and trauma in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.Epilepsia. 2010;51(5):752-759. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02394.xWalsh S, Levita L, Reuber M.Comorbid depression and associated factors in PNES versus epilepsy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Seizure. 2018;60:44-56. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2018.05.014Labudda K, Frauenheim M, Illies D, et al.Psychiatric disorders and trauma history in patients with pure PNES and patients with PNES and coexisting epilepsy.Epilepsy Behav. 2018;88:41-48. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.08.027Hingray C, Biberon J, El-Hage W, de Toffol B.Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES).Rev Neurol (Paris). 2016;172(4-5):263-269. doi:10.1016/j.neurol.2015.12.011

10 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Huff JS, Murr N.Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441871/Devinsky O, Gazzola D, LaFrance WC Jr.Differentiating between nonepileptic and epileptic seizures.Nat Rev Neurol. 2011;7(4):210-220. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2011.24International League Against Epilepsy.By any other name: What to call psychogenic non-epileptic seizures?Auxéméry Y, Hubsch C, Fidelle G.Crises psychogènes non épileptiques. Revue de la littérature[Psychogenic non epileptic seizures: a review].Encephale. 2011;37(2):153-158. doi:10.1016/j.encep.2010.04.009National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Functional Neurologic Disorder.Bajestan SN, LaFrance WC Jr.Clinical Approaches to Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2016;14(4):422-431. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20160020Bakvis P, Spinhoven P, Giltay EJ, et al.Basal hypercortisolism and trauma in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.Epilepsia. 2010;51(5):752-759. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02394.xWalsh S, Levita L, Reuber M.Comorbid depression and associated factors in PNES versus epilepsy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Seizure. 2018;60:44-56. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2018.05.014Labudda K, Frauenheim M, Illies D, et al.Psychiatric disorders and trauma history in patients with pure PNES and patients with PNES and coexisting epilepsy.Epilepsy Behav. 2018;88:41-48. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.08.027Hingray C, Biberon J, El-Hage W, de Toffol B.Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES).Rev Neurol (Paris). 2016;172(4-5):263-269. doi:10.1016/j.neurol.2015.12.011

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Huff JS, Murr N.Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441871/Devinsky O, Gazzola D, LaFrance WC Jr.Differentiating between nonepileptic and epileptic seizures.Nat Rev Neurol. 2011;7(4):210-220. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2011.24International League Against Epilepsy.By any other name: What to call psychogenic non-epileptic seizures?Auxéméry Y, Hubsch C, Fidelle G.Crises psychogènes non épileptiques. Revue de la littérature[Psychogenic non epileptic seizures: a review].Encephale. 2011;37(2):153-158. doi:10.1016/j.encep.2010.04.009National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Functional Neurologic Disorder.Bajestan SN, LaFrance WC Jr.Clinical Approaches to Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2016;14(4):422-431. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20160020Bakvis P, Spinhoven P, Giltay EJ, et al.Basal hypercortisolism and trauma in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.Epilepsia. 2010;51(5):752-759. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02394.xWalsh S, Levita L, Reuber M.Comorbid depression and associated factors in PNES versus epilepsy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Seizure. 2018;60:44-56. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2018.05.014Labudda K, Frauenheim M, Illies D, et al.Psychiatric disorders and trauma history in patients with pure PNES and patients with PNES and coexisting epilepsy.Epilepsy Behav. 2018;88:41-48. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.08.027Hingray C, Biberon J, El-Hage W, de Toffol B.Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES).Rev Neurol (Paris). 2016;172(4-5):263-269. doi:10.1016/j.neurol.2015.12.011

Huff JS, Murr N.Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures. [Updated 2022 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441871/

Devinsky O, Gazzola D, LaFrance WC Jr.Differentiating between nonepileptic and epileptic seizures.Nat Rev Neurol. 2011;7(4):210-220. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2011.24

International League Against Epilepsy.By any other name: What to call psychogenic non-epileptic seizures?

Auxéméry Y, Hubsch C, Fidelle G.Crises psychogènes non épileptiques. Revue de la littérature[Psychogenic non epileptic seizures: a review].Encephale. 2011;37(2):153-158. doi:10.1016/j.encep.2010.04.009

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Functional Neurologic Disorder.

Bajestan SN, LaFrance WC Jr.Clinical Approaches to Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures.Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2016;14(4):422-431. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20160020

Bakvis P, Spinhoven P, Giltay EJ, et al.Basal hypercortisolism and trauma in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.Epilepsia. 2010;51(5):752-759. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2009.02394.x

Walsh S, Levita L, Reuber M.Comorbid depression and associated factors in PNES versus epilepsy: Systematic review and meta-analysis.Seizure. 2018;60:44-56. doi:10.1016/j.seizure.2018.05.014

Labudda K, Frauenheim M, Illies D, et al.Psychiatric disorders and trauma history in patients with pure PNES and patients with PNES and coexisting epilepsy.Epilepsy Behav. 2018;88:41-48. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2018.08.027

Hingray C, Biberon J, El-Hage W, de Toffol B.Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES).Rev Neurol (Paris). 2016;172(4-5):263-269. doi:10.1016/j.neurol.2015.12.011

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?