NONEPILEPTIC SEIZURES OF PHYSIOLOGICAL ORIGIN

Because patients with NES are often misdiagnosed and treated as though they have ES, health care services may be inappropriately utilized. No accurate data are available regarding the prevalence of undiagnosed NES in the population. Using EEG-video monitoring, with supplementary physiologic parameters when indicated, we determined that 32% of 231 patients referred for a diagnosis of intractable seizures actually had NES. Patients with psychNES constituted 24% of the total group. Eighteen patients had physNES. Of the latter, 28% also had a known or suspected diagnosis of epilepsy. We reviewed the many physiologic causes of NES. In our experience, combining EEG-audio-video monitoring with other polygraphic techniques has been relatively simple and has allowed more appropriate or effective treatment in all patients with physNES. © 1995.