There are some seizure-like events that are not caused by epilepsy. These are called psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) or psychogenic non-epileptic attacks (PNEA). PNES/PNEA can be brought on by emotional stress or trauma. They may look like epileptic seizures, but they have a psychological cause and are not linked Show Full Answer

There are some seizure-like events that are not caused by epilepsy. These are called psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) or psychogenic non-epileptic attacks (PNEA). PNES/PNEA can be brought on by emotional stress or trauma. They may look like epileptic seizures, but they have a psychological cause and are not linked to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. PNES/PNEA often do not respond to epilepsy medications. Diagnosing them requires a medical workup by a neurologist and tests like EEG. Once identified, PNES/PNEA can be treated through counseling, therapy, medication for co-occurring mental health issues, or a combination.

 This AI-generated response comes from MyEpilepsyTeam and other selected sources. It is not a substitute for medical advice. Always ask your doctor about specific health concerns.

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