Effects of attachment styles, childhood traumas, and alexithymia in Turkish patients with epilepsy and functional seizures.

Introduction: In this cross-sectional study, we used self-report scales to compare childhood traumas, attachment styles, and alexithymia among patients with functional seizures (FS) to patients with epilepsy and healthy controls. We also investigated risk factors associated with FS.

Material And Methods: A total of 44 patients with epilepsy, 14 patients with FS, and 25 healthy controls were included. All participants were over the age of 18 and were referred to the Baskent University Adana Epilepsy and Video-EEG Center. The patients underwent neurological examinations, brain MRIs, and video-EEG evaluations. Epileptic seizures were classified based on video EEG. The control group consisted of healthy individuals without neurological or psychiatric illness and a history of epileptic seizures or syncope. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Adult Attachment Scale (AAS), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) were applied to all participants.

Results: Patients with FS had lower educational levels, higher rates of unemployment and single-marital status. The FS group had higher depression, childhood trauma, and alexithymia scores than the other groups. Furthermore, FS patients had a higher prevalence of avoidant attachment. The alexithymia and childhood trauma scores were both correlated with depression. Through the logistic regression analysis, childhood trauma scores and alexithymia were significant risk factors for FS.

Conclusion: The use of video-EEG for diagnosing FS can reduce the risk of misdiagnosis and inappropriate antiepileptic treatment. Psychiatric comorbidities, childhood traumas, and alexithymia are prevalent in patients with FS. Therefore, implementing a multidisciplinary treatment approach that addresses the psychological, medical, and social aspects of FS can significantly improve outcomes.