Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), also referred to as pseudoseizures, non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD), functional seizures, or dissociative seizures,[ 2] [ 3] are episodes resembling an epileptic seizure but without the characteristic electrical discharges associated with epilepsy.[ 4] [ 3] PNES fall under the category of disorders known as functional neurological disorders (FND)[ 5] and are typically treated by psychologists or psychiatrists.
The number of people with PNES ranges from 2 to 33 per 100,000.[ 6] PNES are most common in young adults, particularly women.[ 6] The prevalence for PNES is estimated to make up 5–20% of outpatient epilepsy clinics; 75–80% of these diagnoses are given to female patients and 83% are to individuals between 15 and 35 years old.[ 7]
PNES are seen in children after the age of eight, and occur equally among boys and girls before puberty. Diagnostic and treatment principles are similar to those for adults, except that in children there is a broader differential diagnosis of seizures so that other possible diagnoses specific to children may be considered.[ 8]