Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria (Oct 2014)

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and psychogenic movement disorders: two sides of the same coin?

  • Luciano De Paola,
  • Renato L. Marchetti,
  • Hélio Afonso Ghizoni Teive,
  • W. Curt LaFrance-Jr.

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282X20140111
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 72, no. 10
pp. 793 – 802

Abstract

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Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) and psychogenic movement disorders (PMD) are commonly seen in Neurology practice and are categorized in the DSM-5 as functional neurological disorders/conversion disorders. This review encompasses historical and epidemiological data, clinical aspects, diagnostic criteria, treatment and prognosis of these rather challenging and often neglected patients. As a group they have puzzled generations of neurologists and psychiatrists and in some ways continue to do so, perhaps embodying and justifying the ultimate and necessary link between these specialties.

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