What is the Difference Between Epileptic and Nonepileptic Seizures?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Epileptic and non-epileptic seizures can appear similar, but they have distinct differences in their causes and treatment. Here are the main differences between the two:
- Causes: Epileptic seizures are caused by a disturbance in the electrical activity of the brain, while non-epileptic seizures can have various causes, such as low blood sugar, infection, electrolyte imbalance, or psychological factors like stress.
- Brain Activity: During an epileptic seizure, the brain experiences a surge in electrical activity, which can be detected through an electroencephalogram (EEG) test. In contrast, non-epileptic seizures do not show the same spikes in electrical activity on an EEG test.
- Diagnosis: To differentiate between epileptic and non-epileptic seizures, a seizure specialist may perform a video-electroencephalogram (EEG) test. Patients with epilepsy will often show characteristic spikes in electrical activity, while patients with non-epileptic seizures (NES) will show normal brain activity.
- Treatment: Traditional epilepsy treatments, such as anti-seizure medications, will not work for non-epileptic seizures and can even introduce harmful side effects for these patients. Instead, the treatment for non-epileptic seizures depends on the underlying cause, such as addressing the psychological factors or treating the physical condition.
It is essential to differentiate between epileptic and non-epileptic seizures to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. In some cases, up to 30% of adults diagnosed with epilepsy are later found to have non-epileptic seizures.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Epileptic and Nonepileptic Seizures? Comparative Table: Epileptic vs Nonepileptic Seizures
Comparative Table: Epileptic vs Nonepileptic Seizures
Here is a table summarizing the differences between epileptic and nonepileptic seizures:
Feature | Epileptic Seizures (ES) | Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES) |
---|---|---|
Definition | Seizures caused by excessive electrical discharges in the brain. | Paroxysmal changes in behavior, motor, sensory, autonomic, cognitive, or emotional function that are not associated with an electrophysiologic abnormality. |
Diagnosis | Diagnosed primarily through electroencephalogram (EEG) and video-EEG monitoring. | Diagnosed based on semiological characteristics and clinical assessment, as video-EEG monitoring may not be widely available. |
Symptoms | Can include loss of consciousness, muscle contractions, and involuntary movements. | Symptoms are similar to ES but may lack a clear pattern or cause, and the patient may be more aware of their surroundings. |
Treatment | Medications, dietary changes, and surgery, depending on the type of epilepsy. | Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying psychological issues, as PNES is not caused by an electrical abnormality in the brain. |
Prevalence | Accounts for approximately 90-95% of seizure cases. | Accounts for approximately 5-10% of epilepsy incidence, or about 10-40% of patients with refractory seizures. |
Misdiagnosis between ES and PNES is common, and patients with PNES often experience diagnostic delays, receive inappropriate treatments, and incur increased healthcare utilization costs.
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