You are here

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Short report
Use of short term video EEG in the diagnosis of attack disorders
  1. A McGonigal,
  2. A J C Russell,
  3. A K Mallik,
  4. M Oto,
  5. R Duncan
  1. Regional Epilepsy Service, Institute of Neurology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
 Dr A McGonigal
 Regional Epilepsy Service, Institute of Neurology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK; aileenmcghotmail.com

Abstract

Background: Distinguishing epileptic from psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) often requires video electroencephalography (EEG) recording. Inpatient recording is a limited resource; some evidence suggests that short term video EEG (SVEEG) is useful, but its role in practice has yet to be evaluated.

Objective: To assess the usefulness of SVEEG in the diagnosis of attack disorders.

Methods: One hundred and forty three SVEEG recordings were performed during an 18 month period.

Results: A diagnostic event was recorded in 72 of 143 (50.3%): PNES (n  =  51), epilepsy (n  =  7), or other attacks, such as movement disorders (n  =  14).

Conclusions: SVEEG is a robust and useful diagnostic technique, which complements existing resources.

  • psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
  • pseudoseizures
  • video EEG
  • EEG, electroencephalography
  • PNES, psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
  • SVEEG, short term video electroencephalography

https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2003.024893

Statistics from Altmetric.com

    Request Permissions

    If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    View Full Text

    Footnotes

    • Competing interest: none declared