Webinar: An Overview of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures

Update

Watch a recording of this webinar.

Originally published on May 3, 2019.

Webinar on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET

Join us for an educational webinar, “An Overview of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures.”

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are a common and complex disorder consisting of recurrent events that mimic or can be confused with epileptic seizures. Yet, while these events are called seizures, they are not seizures. Their occurrence is not associated with concurrent (happening at the same time) abnormal electrical activity of the brain (which is typical of epileptic seizures). In fact, the electrical activity recorded during one of these events is normal.

PNES have a sudden onset, can have a variable duration, and can present as “convulsive” and “non-convulsive” events during which the person may be responsive or unresponsive. PNES can often be misdiagnosed as intractable (difficult to control) epilepsy. In fact, 1 of every 4 people admitted for evaluation with this diagnosis do not have epilepsy and most have PNES. Often, it may take years to make the diagnosis.

PNES is a heterogenous disorder, which means it has different causes. Psychiatric causes can often, but not always, be identified. Its diagnosis can be easily achieved with a video-EEG (electroencephalograph) monitoring study. Unfortunately, PNES is one of the medical disorders that needlessly go untreated.

Webinar

“An Overview of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures”

• Date: Wednesday, May 29, 2019
• Time: 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. ET

Moderated by Dr. Elaine Kiriakopoulos, director of health communications and engagement for the Epilepsy Foundation, our guest speaker will discuss

• Who can be affected by PNES?
• What are risk factors for developing PNES?
• How are PNES diagnosed?
• Accepting the diagnosis of PNES
• A multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of PNES
• Prognosis and long-term outcomes in PNES

Guest Speaker

 

Andres M. Kanner MD, FANA, FAAN, FAES
Professor of Clinical Neurology, Head of the Epilepsy Section
Director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center
University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Co-Editor-in-Chief, epilepsy.com

Note: presenters cannot address individual medical concerns and cannot provide individual advice.