Am J Psychiatry 1979; 136:210-213
Copyright © 1979 by American Psychiatric Association
Pseudoepilepsy: a study in adolescent hysteria
M Gross
Of 19 adolescents with diagnosed psychogenic seizures, 13 had hysterical
convulsions and 4 had amnesiac fugues. Sixteen of the patients were given a
diagnosis of hysterical neurosis; 2, process schizophrenia; and 1,
borderline psychosis. Thirteen of the patients were initially diagnosed
incorrectly as having epilepsy and were treated for an average of 15 months
with anticonvulsant medication. The therapist should always consider the
possibility of psychogenic factors in children and adolescents who suffer
from seizures.
