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Panic symptoms in transient loss of consciousness: Frequency and diagnostic value in psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, epilepsy and syncope

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Steve Parry

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Abstract

© 2017 British Epilepsy Association Purpose Previous studies suggest that ictal panic symptoms are common in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). This study investigates the frequency of panic symptoms in PNES and if panic symptoms, just before or during episodes, can help distinguish PNES from the other common causes of transient loss of consciousness (TLOC), syncope and epilepsy. Methods Patients with secure diagnoses of PNES (n = 98), epilepsy (n = 95) and syncope (n = 100) were identified using clinical databases from three United Kingdom hospitals. Patients self-reported the frequency with which they experienced seven symptoms of panic disorder in association with their episodes. A composite panic symptom score was calculated on the basis of the frequency of symptoms. Results 8.2% of patients with PNES reported “never” experiencing any of the seven panic symptoms in their episodes of TLOC. Patients with PNES reported more frequent panic symptoms in their attacks than those with epilepsy (p < 0.001) or syncope (p < 0.001), however, patients with PNES were more likely “rarely” or “never” to report five of the seven-ictal panic symptoms than “frequently” or “always” (45–69% versus 13–29%). A receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that the composite panic symptom score distinguished patients with PNES from the other groups (sensitivity 71.1%, specificity 71.2%), but not epilepsy from syncope. Conclusions Patients with PNES report TLOC associated panic symptoms more commonly than those with epilepsy or syncope. Although panic symptoms are reported infrequently by most patients with PNES, a composite symptom score may contribute to the differentiation between PNES and the other two common causes of TLOC.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Rawlings GH, Jamnadas-Khoda J, Broadhurst M, Grunewald RA, Howell SJ, Koepp M, Parry SW, Sisodiya SM, Walker MC, Reuber M

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Seizure

Year: 2017

Volume: 48

Pages: 22-27

Print publication date: 01/05/2017

Online publication date: 27/03/2017

Acceptance date: 25/03/2017

ISSN (print): 1059-1311

ISSN (electronic): 1532-2688

Publisher: W.B. Saunders Ltd

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seizure.2017.03.015

DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2017.03.015

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