For those who have or know about pseudoseizures

Re: For those who have or know about pseudoseizures

Submitted by zealot on Sat, 2010-11-06 - 10:17

Tadzio,

Good post.  I have to try to get my hands on that book.  It's a huge issue.  All of this money not being spent to properly diagnose patients is driving this nation into the poor house.

Baruch Hashem.  Hoshia na.

Devorah Zealot Soodak http://psychout.typepad.com/ the zealot needs help! Please read my blog. The link is after my name. Thanks.

Re: For those who have or know about pseudoseizures

Submitted by Masterjen on Sun, 2010-11-07 - 01:08

Hey, Marty; Thanks for the invitation to do this. I've known the child since the day she was born, and her mom and I have been best friends since we were very young. I have been very involved with the family over the years, and love them immensely. The child and I "hang out" together frequently. She herself calls me her "role-model" and has said she wants to be just like me - she sees her mom as "too fussy and mom-like". The family - including this 12 year old - were a great support to me when I was first diagnosed with seizures 6 months ago. As soon as the mom mentioned her daughter was having seizures, my first response certainly was not "oh, these are not real seizures"!! I gave the parents all the support I could, including the name of a pediatric neurologist who has an excellent reputation. Since I am close to the family, the parents asked me if I would go along to the appointments with them and their daughter. That is why I know what the neurologist said. Because this was a young child, various tests were expedited. After talking to the girl in private and observing some of the seizures, the neuro. and a psychologist recognized that she was consciously feigning the seizures. The neurologist herself called them a form of psychogenic seizure, so in my initial post I referred to them as such because the neurologist used that terminology. Some of these seizures were videotaped, and with the neurologist explaining to us the features of her episodes, along with her telling us what the child said in private to the neurologist and psychologist, as difficult it was to accept, it became very apparent (or, as I said in my original post "obvious") to her parents and I that the seizures were feigned. It was also the neurologist and psychologist who suggested the "with-holding of favorite activities approach" and then if that alone was unsuccessful in helping the child realize there was no benefit to having seizures, then trying the placebo. My initial post did not broach the subject of whether I agreed with these techniques. Taking this approach is what the parents decided to do and whether or not I agree is irrelevant; I will support them. The parents asked me questions I could not answer (those that I posted), and I said I would bring them up with the intelligent and supportive individuals that comprise our forums community.