Cultural issues: perspectives and experiences of patients with dissociative seizures in Argentina

ARECO PICO, MARIA MARTA; SARUDIANSKY, MERCEDES; LANZILLOTTI, ALEJANDRA INÉS; TENREYRO, CRISTINA; WOLFZUN, CAMILA; D'ALESSIO, LUCIANA; KORMAN, GUIDO PABLO

SEIZURE : THE JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH EPILEPSY ASSOCIATION.

W B SAUNDERS CO LTD

Año: 2023 vol. 106 p. 101 - 109

1059-1311

Purpose: To explore patients’ subjective experience when receiving a diagnosis of DissociativeSeizures (DS) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and their explanatory models about DS.Method: A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews was used to gain an in-depthand contextual understanding of the perspectives of 19 patients with DS. Data collection andanalysis were followed by an inductive and interpretive approach informed by the principles ofthematic analysis.Results: Four main themes emerged: 1) Reactions to the Diagnosis; 2) Ways of Naming theDisease; 3) Own Explanatory Models; 4) External Explanatory Models.Conclusions: This information might help achieve an adequate knowledge of the localcharacteristics of patients with DS. Most patients could not express any emotions orconsiderations about being diagnosed with DS, and they related their seizures to a personal orsocial-emotional conflict and environmental stress; however, family members related patients’seizures to a biological cause. It is important to analyze cultural differences in patients with DSin order to develop appropriate interventions for this specific population.