O. Gudmundsson et al., Outcome of pseudoseizures in children and adolescents: a 6-year symptom survival analysis, DEVELOP MED, 43(8), 2001, pp. 547-551
Outcome was studied of all children and adolescents with pseudoseizures wit
hout epilepsy, who were referred and treated as in-patients and/or day pati
ents in the tertiary psychiatric ward at Birmingham Children's Hospital, UK
between 1988 and 1994. Information was derived from case-note data. Freedo
m from seizures for six months was defined as 'cure', as no recurrences aft
er this period were noted. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used. Sevente
en patients were identified: 15 females and two males; mean age at presenta
tion to the tertiary psychiatric service was 12 years 9 months (SD 26 month
s; range 8 years 3 months to 15 years 9 months). Fourteen participants reco
vered and resumed regular school attendance. Three were lost to follow-up d
ue to being referred on to other agencies before recovery because they beca
me too old for the service. Recovery followed an exponential distribution,
with a mean symptom survival time following treatment of 1.5 years. These r
esults are consistent with a treatment effect. Younger age at presentation,
female sex, having more types of seizures, and not receiving both in-patie
nt and outpatient treatment were associated with better outcome. The deteri
orating prognosis with age at treatment suggests prompt identification may
be important in ensuring a good outcome.