PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND TRAUMA IN EPILEPTIC AND PSYCHOGENIC SEIZURE PATIENTS

Forty-one patients admitted to an inpatient epilepsy unit for intracta ble seizures were evaluated for the presence of Axis I and Axis II dia gnoses and for a history of trauma by use of a structured clinical int erview. Both the interviewer and the patient were blind to the seizure diagnosis. Following video and electroencephalographic evaluation, 27 patients were diagnosed with epileptic seizures, and 14 had psychogen ic seizures. The history of Axis I and Axis II disorders did not disti nguish the two groups Of patients. A history of trauma was significant ly more likely in the patients with psychogenic seizures. The experien ce of trauma appears to be an important factor in the development of p sychogenic seizures. Sexual trauma alone, however, was not significant ly associated with psychogenic seizures.