9: Medically unexplained / functional symptoms (no lecture)

Question 1

What is another name for a functional attack?

Answer 1

Non-epileptic attack

Question 2

Functional attack are a response to ___ or ___ in a patient’s life.

Answer 2

trauma or stress

Question 3

What are some stresses or trauma which may form the basis for non-epileptic attacks?

Answer 3

Trauma

Sexual abuse

etc.

Question 4

Normal, familiar sensations or memories preceding a seizure are a sign of epilepsy - true or false?

Answer 4

False

Focal sensory epilepsy = non-familiar, abnormal sensations

Question 5

How are functional attacks investigated?

Answer 5

Extensive history and linguistics analysis

Long-term EEG

Question 6

Do anticonvulsants help with functional attacks?

Answer 6

No

Question 7

How are functional attacks managed?

Answer 7

Eliminate epilesy

Withdraw anti-convulsants

Explain, reassure, counsel

Treat psychiatric disorders e.g anxiety or depression

Question 8

Why should you be cautious with counselling and CBT in patients with historic stress or trauma related experiences?

Answer 8

Reexposure to event too soon does more harm than good

Question 9

non epileptic

prolonged, uncoordinated, varied movements

if you can’t think of a part of the brain which would cause the behaviour, it’s not epilepsy