Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures: Toward the Integration of Care

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are attacks that mimic epileptic seizures, but are not caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. Instead, PNES are typically considered involuntary expressions of distress, making diagnosis and treatment a challenge. Historically, patients are referred to neurologists who, after completing a diagnostic work up, refer patients to mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, for treatment. For a number of reasons, this transition of care between specialists is often not successful, and this impacts patient treatment and outcomes. Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures: Toward the Integration of Care offers new insights into the practical diagnostic and treatment challenges faced by clinicians who manage this condition. This book covers the different stages of care, from the initial evaluation to long-term outcomes, and highlights the need to work collaboratively to provide patients with comprehensive care and improved outcomes. It provides up-to-date evidence and shares clinical expertise for the management of this challenging diagnosis that requires the expertise of a multi-disciplinary team. The authors provide a new framework on how to conceptualize and manage this disorder to more effectively address the needs of patients.

About the Author

Dr. Dworetzky is the Chief of Epilepsy at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School. She leads the large multidisciplinary Bromfield Epilepsy Program and directs the EEG laboratory and the clinical training fellowships in her field. Dr. Dworetzky is the Chair of the Clinical Council of Activities for the American Epilepsy Society and is a leading expert in psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Together with Dr. Baslet, she sees patients in a shared clinical setting to enhance patient engagement in treatment. Dr. Gaston Baslet is an Associate Psychiatrist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School. He specializes in the neuropsychiatric aspects of epilepsy and functional neurological symptom disorder, including psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. His particular focus is in the development of therapeutic strategies for short-term and long-term management of PNES.