Functional / dissociative seizures: Epidemiological and clinical aspects

Abstract

Patients with functional/dissociative seizures (FDS) are commonly seen in neurological practice. FDS is a functional neurological disorder and associated with high rates of disability and economic stagnation. The articles included in this thesis provided, to the best of our knowledge, the first population-based estimates of the prevalence of FDS in a particular population. The highest prevalence was found in adolescents. In a prospective cohort study from the National Center for Epilepsy, the long-term prognosis of FDS was poor. At follow-up (mean duration of almost 6 years), 61% of patients diagnosed with FDS continued to experience seizures. We found that attachment anxiety, female gender, and self-rated executive dysfunction were risk factors for persistent FDS. Knowledge about the occurrence, long-term outcomes, and risk factors for the persistence of FDS are important both for the patients and the clinicians involved with this patient group, as well as for planning of healthcare services.