Adult-onset psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: A multicenter international study

ALI A. ASADI-POOYA, KETTE VALENTE, ANILU DAZA RESTREPO, LUCIANA D'ALESSIO, MARYAM HOMAYOUN, ZAHRA BAHRAMI, RUDÁ ALESSI, ANGÉLICA ARONI PAYTAN, SILVIA KOCHEN ET AL

EPILEPSY & BEHAVIOR (PRINT)

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2019 vol. 98 p. 36 - 39

1525-5050

Purpose: The aim of this multicenter international cross-cultural study was to compare clinical variables in a largesample of people with adult-onset psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES).Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated persons with documented PNES, who were older than 16years of age at the onset, from four countries (i.e., Iran, Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina) regarding their age, gender, PNES semiology, and possible predisposing factors.Results: We included 389 patients (244 from Iran, 66 from Brazil, 51 from Venezuela, and 28 from Argentina). Ageat diagnosis was 32 ± 9 years (range: 17 ?64 years), and age at the onset of seizures was 27 ± 8 years (range:17 ?49 years). There was a female predominance in all countries. The demographic characteristics and factors associated with PNES were similar among the countries. However, there were signi ficant semiological differencesamong the countries.Conclusion: This study corroborates the notion that PNES share more similarities than differences cross-culturallyand across international borders. However, the background determined by cultural, ethnic, and religious differences may in fluence the semiology of PNES. Further cross-cultural studies involving more than two continentsmay advance our understanding of PNES