EPILEPSY, PSEUDOSEIZURES AND PERCEIVED FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS - A CONTROLLED-STUDY

Previous research in the area of pseudoseizures has focused upon their phenomenology and the characteristics of the individual with pseudose izures. This study set out to examine the role of pseudoseizure behavi our in fulfilling a function within the family context. Pseudoseizure patients, patients with epilepsy and healthy controls completed questi onnaires measuring the following variables - anxiety and depression, l ocus of control, self-esteem, family characteristics and perceived sei zure severity. People with pseudoseizures perceived their families as displaying less commitment and support to each other (family Cohesion scale) and less emphasis on ethical issues and values (family Moral-re ligious scale) than both the epilepsy and the control groups. People w ith pseudoseizures reported levels of family interest in political, so cial and recreational activities (family Intellectual-cultural scale) similar to people with epilepsy, both these group scores being lower t han the control group. The two patient groups also reported higher dep ression scores than controls, yet only the epilepsy group had lower se lf-esteem than the controls. These initial findings support a role of family involvement in therapy for people with pseudoseizures and may l ead to a better understanding of the aetiology of pseudoseizures, as w ell as clarifying characteristics which may well aid the differentiati on of pseudoseizures from epilepsy.