Mortality in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

R Nightscales; L McCartney; C Auvrez; G Tao; S Barnard; CB Malpas; P Perucca; A McIntosh; Z Chen; S Sivathamboo; S Ignatiadis; S Jones; S Adams; MJ Cook; P Kwan; D Velakoulis; W D'Souza; SF Berkovic; TJ O'Brien

Journal article

Mortality in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

R Nightscales, L McCartney, C Auvrez, G Tao, S Barnard, CB Malpas, P Perucca, A McIntosh, Z Chen, S Sivathamboo, S Ignatiadis, S Jones, S Adams, MJ Cook, P Kwan, D Velakoulis, W D'Souza, SF Berkovic, TJ O'Brien

Neurology | LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS | Published : 2020

DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000009855

Open access

Abstract

Objective To investigate the hypothesis that patients diagnosed with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) on video-EEG monitoring (VEM) have increased mortality by comparison to the general population.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included patients evaluated in VEM units of 3 tertiary hospitals in Melbourne, Australia, between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2015. Diagnosis was based on consensus opinion of experienced epileptologists and neuropsychiatrists at each hospital. Mortality was determined in patients diagnosed with PNES, epilepsy, or both conditions by linkage to the Australian National Death Index. Lifetime history of psychiatric disorders in PNES was determined fr..

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