Pseudo Seizures

[Keepstanding]

Friends,

Have you ever had a student present with Pseudo Seizures ? I have a student who has these and no basis for it. Phy. has ruled out Epliepsy. Normal EEG. I am stumped as to why ???

I would love to hear from you to see if you have ever experienced this ??

Thank you.

[GdBSN, RN]

When this student was having these seizures, the principal kept asking me, "do you think she's faking, do you think she's faking?" I politely told her "it's not my job to figure out if she is faking or not, my job is to make sure she is safe. If she is presenting with seizure like symptoms, then I will follow seizure protocol."

[Jedrnurse, BSN, RN]

Don't stress- just give pseudo nursing care.

[kidzcare]

Don't stress- just give pseudo nursing care.

t-shirt

[TheMoonisMyLantern, ADN, LPN, RN]

Pseudoseizures are actually pretty interesting. There is usually more to it than just a person "faking it".

Medscape: Medscape Access

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1184694-overview

[OldDude]

"A series of movements or behaviors that resemble a seizure but are not caused by abnormal electrical brain activity. SOME ARE SIMULATED FOR SECONDARY GAIN AND SOME BY PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES; THEY CAN BE STOPPED BY AN ACT OF WILL" - Taber's 22nd Edition.

[OldDude]

Don't stress- just give pseudo nursing care.

Best advice I've heard in a long time!!

[SchoolNurseTXstyle]

If you ask me, half of what we see on a daily basis should have a pseudo in front of it!! Especially in May!!

[OldDude]

If you ask me, half of what we see on a daily basis should have a pseudo in front of it!! Especially in May!!

AMEN!

[3wishes, MSN, APRN, NP]

Sometimes a pt would present to subspecialty neuro clinic with these for months. Previous Drs. were unable to diagnose. The clinic Dr. went through standard history and physical with pt, all negative, then asked about abuse hx. Dr. was not surprised to hear hx of sexual abuse at young age. Pt had counseling for it at some point and thought it was resolved. Dr. said this presentation is not uncommon and referred to specialized psych.

[OldDude]

Sometimes a pt would present to subspecialty neuro clinic with these for months. Previous Drs. were unable to diagnose. The clinic Dr. went through standard history and physical with pt, all negative, then asked about abuse hx. Dr. was not surprised to hear hx of sexual abuse at young age. Pt had counseling for it at some point and thought it was resolved. Dr. said this presentation is not uncommon and referred to specialized psych.

I'm good with that - psychogenic seizure...I think the more appropriate term to use, otherwise, instead of pseudo seizure would be idiopathic seizure. It's a seizure from an unknown origin. Not a fake seizure, or false seizure, etc.

[Larry3373]

I've had a couple patients who have done this. The "seizure" only really happens when someone is around, and there is no postictal state. Try picking their hand up afterward and dropping it on their face to see if they will slap themselves, lol.

[TheMoonisMyLantern, ADN, LPN, RN]

"A series of movements or behaviors that resemble a seizure but are not caused by abnormal electrical brain activity. SOME ARE SIMULATED FOR SECONDARY GAIN AND SOME BY PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES; THEY CAN BE STOPPED BY AN ACT OF WILL" - Taber's 22nd Edition.

Key word SOME are related to secondary gain. However, when there is the presence of psychopathology, as is with many cases of pseudoseizures it is simply more COMPLICATED than "she's faking it."