Treatment approach in a child with hysterical seizures superimposed on partial complex seizures.

Abstract

This article reports the case of a 9 1/2 year old child with a history of psychomotor epilepsy which was uncontrolled by multiple anticonvulsant medications. When admitted to the psychiatric inpatient service, he was treated with a combination of pharmacological, behavioural and psychodynamically oriented approaches. A period of intensive family counseling was conducted to clarify the parents' concerns about causality of the seizures and methods for dealing with them. This combined approach led to a complete cessation of reported seizures and a decreased number and dosage of anticonvulsant medications. The authors discuss the reluctance of some physicians to accept the co-existence of neurogenic and psychogenic seizures in a given patient. Patients with pharmacologically uncontrolled seizures must be identified and accurately diagnosed (neurogenic and/or psychogenic) to prevent complication such as over-medication and to administer appropriate treatment. Multiple disciplinary therapy including psychodynamic, pharmacological, behavioural and educational approaches should be implemented.

• Authors: H C Parraga, J H Kashani
• Journal: Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie (Can J Psychiatry) Vol. 26 Issue 2 Pg. 114-7 (Mar 1981) ISSN: 0706-7437 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7260817 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anticonvulsants

Topics

• Anticonvulsants (administration & dosage)
• Behavior Therapy
• Child
• Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe (complications, therapy)
• Humans
• Hysteria (complications)
• Male
• Parents (psychology)
• Seizures (etiology, therapy)
• Speech Therapy