Prevalence of alexithymia in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures and epileptic seizures and predictors in psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

Objective: The first objective of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of alexithymia (dysregulation and unawareness of emotion) in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNESs) and epileptic seizures (ESs). The second objective was to identify the predictors of alexithymia in patients with PNESs.

Methods: We studied 66 consecutive patients with PNESs and 35 patients with ESs with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20.

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: predisposing factors to diminished quality of life.

Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the factors that contribute to the reports of diminished quality of life (QOL) in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES).

Methods: We assessed 62 patients with PNES for quality of life, anger expression and personality, and psychiatric, social and medical histories.

Results: Diagnosis of depression, pain syndromes, older age of onset and shorter duration of PNES correlated with poorer quality of life.