Archives of Academic Emergency Medicine. 2020; 8(1): e10 REV I EW ART I C L E Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures; a Narrative Review Ameneh Jafari1, Mostafa Rezaei Tavirani2∗, Mohsen Parvareshi Hamrah2, Sanaz Ahmadi Karvigh3, Haniyeh Bashi Zadeh Fakhar4 1. Student Research Committee, Proteomics Research Center, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Proteomics Research Center, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Department of Neurology, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 4. Department of laboratory science,chalous branch,islamic azad iniversity,chalous,iran. Received: November 2019; Accepted: December 2019; Published online: 20 January 2020 Abstract: Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are paroxysmal changes that mimic epileptic seizures, so often mis- diagnosed and treated for epilepsy. PNES are considered a psychiatric illness, personality pathology, and expe- riential and behavioral manifestation of depression. Despite studies over the past two decades, the pathological mechanisms of this disorder are unclear. In this paper, we critically review the current literature about the defi- nition, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, related genes, and biomarkers of PNES and provide suggestions for future research. Further studies are needed for more information and knowledge on PNES to determine the appropriate psychotherapies and development of clear treatment guidelines. Keywords: Seizures; Epilepsy; Psychogenic; Biomarkers; Conversion disorder Cite this article as: Jafari A, Rezaei Tavirani M, Parvareshi Hamrah M, Ahmadi Karvigh S, Bashi Zadeh Fakhar H. Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures; a Narrative Review. Arch Acad Emerg Med. 2020; 8(1): e10. 1. Introduction Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are defined as paroxysmal changes in behavior, consciousness and auto- nomic function that resemble epileptic seizures (ES) but lack the electroencephalographic (EEG) signature of epilep- tic seizures [1-3]. PNES are characterized by disturbance of motor, autonomic, sensory, cognitive and/or emotional functions. The diagnosis of PNES is challenging and can take an average of 7 years between the manifestation of spells and definite diagnosis [4-6]. Therefore, patients with PNES are often misdiagnosed and face delays in reaching a definite diagnosis, and conse- quently are exposed to unnecessary antiepileptic drugs, emergency treatment, and even hospital admissions and other complications caused by unnecessary treatments [2, 7, 8]. PNES, erroneously diagnosed as epileptic also have an economic impact. The cost of misdiagnosis and treat- ment for PNES is surprising. Estimates suggest the cost of ∗Corresponding Author: Mostafa Rezaei Tavirani, Proteomics Research Cen- ter, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Tel: 00982122714248, E-mail:tavirani_m@yahoo.com intractable epilepsy to be about $ 231,432 per patient in 1995 [4]. Considering the heterogeneity of patients with PNES, the etiology of this disorder is very diverse but some factors in- cluding trauma, neurological abnormalities, family dysfunc- tion, stressful life events, and poor interpersonal skills and affect regulation, somatization, psychopathology, personal- ity factors, and avoidant coping styles are identified as influ- ential in development and maintenance of psychogenic non- epileptic seizures [3, 9, 10]. This review aimed to present an overview of existing research regarding the etiology, epidemi- ology, diagnosis, and management of PNES. 2. Epidemiology To understand the impact of PNES, various aspects other than absolute frequency should be considered. It must be noted that patients with PNES are as disabled because they are treated as a patient with epilepsy, receive high medical care and are consequently at risk of iatrogenic harm [11]. Epidemiological data on PNES are sparse and limited. One study from Iceland, estimated the incidence of PNES as 1.4 per 100.000, with symptoms commonly emerging in young adulthood (20 to 40 years old) [12]. However, it is impor- tant to keep in mind that PNES can be detected at any age; This open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 3.0 License (CC BY-NC 3.0). Downloaded from: http://journals.sbmu.ac.ir/aaem A. Jafari et al. 2 for example, they are not rare in children and are described in the elderly. Another study was demonstrated in Ohio and calculated the mean incidence of PNES at around 3/100,000 [12]. Approximately, 75% of patients with this condition are females, probably due to neurobiological, social and vulner- ability differences [10]. Overall, although patients with PNES do not fit with a single stereotype, younger women with a high level of mental health and history of past abuse are more likely to be among this patient group. Prevalence of PNES is estimated in the range of one person per 30,000–50,000 or be- tween 2-3.3 per 100,000 [13, 14]. Some studies have suggested that epilepsy may increase the risk of PNES not only through biological mechanisms but also by experiencing or observing epileptic seizure cases, which may provide an opportunity for model learning [15]. 3. Diagnosis Early diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures is very important, but unfortunately, the diagnosis is often delayed, and because of this, many patients are faced with the con- sequences of undesirable treatment [4, 12]. On the other hand, the diagnosis of PNES in the early phase may result in cost savings and reduce the burden on patients and the health care system [16]. Quality of life in PNES patients is sig- nificantly lower than in patients with epilepsy, which is due to psychopathology and undesirable effects of antiepileptic drugs [17]. Diagnosis of PNES poses particular challenges and PNES must be distinguished from other disorders, such as sleep disorders, migraine, hyperventilation, syncope, paroxysmal dyskinesia, movement disorders, transient ischemic attacks and myasthenia gravis, which are mediated by physiological or psychological causes [10]. An accurate clinical diagnosis of PNES is possible after history taking and direct observation of attacks by an epilepsy specialist in the majority of cases [10, 18]. The clinical and historical features that distinguish PNES from epileptic attacks are listed in table 1. Some of the clinical features commonly found in people with epilepsy are often present in PNES. These include autonomic manifesta- tions like tachycardia, incontinence, injury, flushing, sweat- ing, nocturnal attacks and provocation of attacks by specific triggers such as flashing lights have often appeared to be a feature of epilepsy, but are commonly reported in PNES [19]. In addition to behavior during attacks, other characteristics of the patient’s behavior can provide some clues and warn physicians of the possibility of PNES. For instance, they are more likely to have attacks in medical settings. PNES patients also seem to have a distinct way of communicating and talk- ing about the attacks that distinguishes them from patients with epilepsy [20, 21]. Patients with PNES may be diagnosed with several psychiatric diseases including dissociative disor- der, somatoform disorder, affective disorder, personality dis- order, and other anxiety disorders [4]. Accurate diagnosis and management of PNES requires expe- rience, skill, the use of video EEG and collaboration among neurologists, psychiatrists, pediatricians, nursing staff and other professional colleagues [1]. Approaches for diagno- sis of PNES include epilepsy, EEG, symptom provocation, clinical history, and observation [22]. Video-EEG monitor- ing is considered a diagnostic gold standard in evaluation of seizure-like events, particularly in differentiating between PNES and epileptic seizures [7, 12]. Video-EEG is a highly specific and sensitive technique with a diagnostic yield of 50 to 60 percent. Although it is a costly technique, due to the intrinsic complexity of this group of patients, video- EEG confirmation is often needed for definitive diagnosis of PNES. In addition to Video-EEG, monitoring ictal eye closure and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) might be useful methods for diagnosing patients with PNES [2]. Since EEG is an expensive method, it is not available in many cen- ters, it also requires long-term admission and is not able to capture an actual seizure episode for several times, so al- ternative and auxiliary methods and indirect biomarkers are needed for diagnosis, which we will explain subsequently. 3.1. Biomarkers Multiple studies suggested various biomarkers for differen- tiation between epileptic seizures (ES) and PNES. Evidence showed that Prolactin (PRL) values in ES patient groups were significantly higher than patients with PNES [23-25]. Re- sults related to cortisol level are controversial. Zhang and Liu have demonstrated a typical pattern of pre-ictal de- crease and postictal increase of cortisol in ES, but there were no such changes in PNES [26-28]. In their study, Bakvis et al. confirmed that PNES patients possess basal hyper- cortisolism, which positively correlated with both traumatic histories and threat vigilance [29, 30]. It is reported that a number of pituitary hormones such as thyrotropin-releasing hormone and growth hormone along with PRL and cortisol increase in serum following ES but not PNES [7, 31]. Ac- cording to numerous studies, serum creatine kinase (CK) is the most promising candidate enzyme for differentiating ES from PNES with a sensitivity of 75%, and specificity of 85.5% [31-33]. Based on the evidence, raised serum creatine phos- phokinase (CPK) level significantly correlates with the pres- ence of a seizure as the cause of loss of awareness [34]. Javali and colleagues reported that none of the patients with PNES showed elevation in either serum PRL or CPK [34]. Concerning other hormone candidates, Ghrelin, Nesfatin and Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are impor- tant hormones that can be used as adjunct diagnostic tools for PNES [35, 36]. Aydin et al. have found postictal serum and salivary Nesfatin elevation in ES patients compared to This open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 3.0 License (CC BY-NC 3.0). Downloaded from: http://journals.sbmu.ac.ir/aaem 3 Archives of Academic Emergency Medicine. 2020; 8(1): e10 Table 1: Clinical and historical features suggested for diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES)[10, 18] Clinical Features Historical Features Observer’s ability to modify the patient’s motor activity Associated (often multiple) psychiatric disorders Avoidance behavior during seizures Flurries of seizures or recurrent pseudo– status epilepticus that lead to multiple Asynchronous limb movements emergency department visits or hospitalizations Change in symptomatology High seizure frequency Closed eyes during seizures or resisted eyelid opening History of sexual or physical abuse Dystonic posturing (including opisthotonos) Lack of concern or an excessive or exaggerated emotional response Emotional or situational trigger for seizure onset Multiple unexplained physical symptoms Ictal crying, weeping No history of injury from seizures If tongue biting is present, usually the tip No response to antiepileptic drugs or a (not the side) of the tongue paradoxical increase in seizures with Intermittent or waxing and waning motor activity antiepileptic drug treatment Gradual onset of attacks Personal, family, or professional experience with epilepsy Non-physiological progression Rhythmic pelvic movements Seizures that occur only in the presence of others or only when the Out of phase movements patient is alone Side-to-side head movements those with PNES. Additionally, they detected lower postic- tal serum Ghrelin amounts in ES patients compared to those who had PNES [37]. Connolly and colleagues have demon- strated increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neurotrophin with important effects on neuro- genesis and neuronal plasticity, in children with epilepsy; whereas lowered levels were detected in depressive disorder [38, 39]. Lafrance et al. confirmed lower postictal BDNF in patients with ES, similar to PNES patients; thereby, BNDF is not specific in differentiating seizure types. There is a hy- pothesis that decreased serum BDNF in ES and PNES is prob- ably related to stress, not to seizure [40]. As we mentioned earlier, serious sexual, physical, or emotional abuse has been reported in childhood history of many PNES patients. Stud- ies showed that PNES patients experience physical injuries to the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Nearly 50% of people with PNES have psychological disorders related to trauma, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [41]. Following activation of HPA axis, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is secreted into the blood stream, which induces the release of cortisol. Ending the stress response is crucial because long-term activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and HPA axis can lead to enduring health consequences such as autoimmune dis- eases and growth disorders [42]. However, changes in other signaling pathways can also be at- tributed to stress-related health problems in PNES patients. For instance, higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of oxytocin have been reported in women with a history of abuse and chronic stress [43]. In women, estradiol is lower during stressful conditions compared to normal situations [44]. Moreover, increased amounts of PRL have been ob- served in post-ictal events in epilepsy [41]. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), another component of the SNS, is an inhibitory neuromodulator in the brain that can control propagation of limbic seizures. In addition, NPY’s interaction with cortisol helps individuals cope with stress and main- tain health, while overexpression and decrease of NPY are related to PTSD [41]. The role of NPY in PNES remains un- clear. Decreased NPY levels may contribute to the onset of PNES symptoms. Studies have demonstrated lower levels of NPY and cortisol and elevated plasma ACTH levels in PNES patients with or without exposure to abuse in comparison to healthy controls [41, 45]. CNS, endothelial cells, and bone cells produce a member of the family of natriuretic peptide hormones called C-type na- triuretic peptide (CNP) [46]. The concentration of CNP is very low in circulation and its half-life is also very short, about 3 minutes [47]. An amino-terminal fragment of CNP, NT-pro CNP, is more stable compared to its predecessor. Ceylan M et al. reported lower amounts of post-ictal serum NT-pro- CNP in ES patients compared to PNES patients and healthy controls, regardless of gender [48]. They postulated that such a difference is associated with CNP-related neural mecha- nisms, such as increased blood-brain barrier permeability, altered microcirculation, and synaptic stabilization [48]. 4. Associated factors PNES occur in a heterogeneous population of patients. No single mechanism or interfering factor has been identified for PNES in all patients. Although past traumatic experience and physical or sexual abuses are a common feature and the main cause of PNES, numerous studies identified potential This open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 3.0 License (CC BY-NC 3.0). Downloaded from: http://journals.sbmu.ac.ir/aaem A. Jafari et al. 4 interacting factors in patients with PNES, including predis- posing, precipitating and perpetuating factors. Predisposing factors such as sexual abuse and physical and emotional ne- glect will lead to individual vulnerability and the risk of de- veloping PNES [15, 21, 29]. Precipitating factors can be di- vided into stressors or situations that would probably trig- ger attacks in patients with established PNES [15]. A wide variety of events, such as rape, death of or separation from family members or friends, job loss, injury, accidents, sur- gical procedures, natural disasters, tiredness, and relation- ship difficulties, seem to trigger the onset of PNES, because they occur days to months before the onset of seizures [22]. Factors such as anxiety, anger, depression, and mistreatment have been considered as potentially preventable perpetuat- ing factors [15, 21]. In summary, the insight of the patient, as well as external factors that can enhance their behavior can be affected by confirming the PNES. All of these factors play an important role in the onset or development of PNES, and should not be ignored. 5. Management and Treatment Our knowledge remains limited to the best management strategies for PNES, and although several psychiatric inter- ventions have been described, there is little evidence in this regard. This probably reflects the fact that PNES is not a dis- ease entity but a symptom of a variety of basic psychiatric and psychological problems requiring a series of treatments [49]. In the initial phase of treatment (diagnosis delivery phase), effective communication with a neurologist is very impor- tant for a group of patients with PNES who often feel con- fused and irritated after diagnosis [50]. When the diag- nosis of PNES is made, most patients are referred for psy- chological treatment. A wide variety of psychotherapeu- tic interventions including behavioral approaches, hypnosis, psycho-education, and family therapy have been proposed [4]. At the end of the second phase of treatment (engagement phase), patients will understand their diagnosis; no longer need other diagnostic evaluations elsewhere, start commu- nicating with a mental health care provider, and actively par- ticipate in treatment [22]. The primary goal of the third phase of treatment (acute intervention phase) is to reduce the fre- quency of seizures, but improvement in psychiatric comor- bidities, functional recovery, and quality of life is also desired [51]. Treatment will be selected according to the unique circum- stances of the patient with PNES and will help resolve his/her emotional and psychological causes. Most patients with PNES have other psychiatric illnesses such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, personality disorder, and many others. Of all the various interventions, Cognitive Behavior Figure 1: The main approaches for treatment of psychogenic non- epileptic seizures (PNES). Therapy (CBT) significantly improved the range of clinical and psychological factors and was more effective in reducing attack frequency compared to standard medical care such as medication [52, 53]. Psychological training, relaxation edu- cation, exposure to inevitable conditions and cognitive re- structuring are common techniques in CBT [52, 53]. The fi- nal phase of the treatment (long-term interventions phase) is particularly relevant to the subgroup of PNES patients who will need ongoing care to achieve functional recovery [22, 51]. Some suggested treatments for patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are illustrated in Figure 1. 6. Conclusion PNES include paroxysmal changes in responsiveness, be- haviors, consciousness or movements that look like epilep- tic seizures but lack electrophysiological epileptic changes. PNES are common among women and usually begin in young adolescence. Diagnosis and treatment of these disor- ders are challenging. Accurate diagnosis and management of PNES need video-EEG monitoring and a multidisciplinary collaborative approach among pediatricians, psychiatrists, neurologists, and other specialists. In addition to a video- EEG, biomarkers have indicated limited benefit in diagno- sis of PNES. Hyper-cortisolism, delayed CK/CPK release, low- ered postictal serum and salivary Nesfatin and elevated pos- tictal serum Ghrelin level are useful for differentiating PNES from ES. Furthermore, lower serum levels of BNDF and NPY are considered biomarkers for development of PNES. These This open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 3.0 License (CC BY-NC 3.0). Downloaded from: http://journals.sbmu.ac.ir/aaem 5 Archives of Academic Emergency Medicine. 2020; 8(1): e10 biomarkers are useful for detection of PNES among patients with seizure symptoms, and easier and less expensive than video-EEG. Further studies are necessary to identify new biomarkers and psychopathological mechanisms for finding appropriate treatments for PNES in the future. 7. Declarations 7.1. Acknowledgements We thank the "Student Research Committee" and "Research & Technology Chancellor" in Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences for their financial support. 7.2. Authors Contributions All the authors meet the standard criteria of authorship based on recommendations of the international committee of medical journal editors. Authors ORCIDs Mostafa Rezaei Tavirani: 0000-0003-1767-7475 7.3. Funding Support This study is extracted from a project funded by Student Re- search Committee, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 7.4. Conflict of Interest None. References 1. Takasaki, K., A.D. Stransky, and G.J.P.n. Miller, Psy- chogenic nonepileptic seizures: Diagnosis, manage- ment, and bioethics. 2016. 62: p. 3-8. 2. Wiseman, H. and M.J.S. 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