Functional disorders

Question 1

Most helpful diagnosis of non-epileptic seizures?

Answer 1

Prolonged video EEG

Question 2

What serum measurement helps to differentiate between organic and non-epileptic seizures?

Answer 2

Prolactin

Question 3

In children with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, most frequent environmental cause?

Answer 3

Parental conflict

Question 4

16 y/o patient with 2 week history of progressive left-sided weakness and paresthesias gets worse when promoted to varsity sports. Workup is normal. What is the best initial approach?

Answer 4

Reinforce continuation of daily living and functional tasks

Question 5

Child with non-epileptic seizures keeps getting sent to ER from school. Why should parents share the diagnosis with school?

Answer 5

Potential risk of inappropriate and invasive medical treatment

Question 6

Adolescent admitted to peds neuros service due to functional seizures. Best approach for talking with family and patient about conversion disorder diagnosis?

Answer 6

Emphasizing that the episodes are involuntary