TITLE:
Epilepsy versus non-epileptic attack disorder: A diagnostic and therapeutic challenge
AUTHORS:
Catherine Smith, Jason Ramtahal
KEYWORDS:
Epilepsy; Non-Epileptic Attack Disorder; NEAD; Seizure; Video-EEG
JOURNAL NAME:
Case Reports in Clinical Medicine,
Vol.2 No.1,
March
7,
2013
ABSTRACT: Epilepsy and non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD) share a vast
number of clinical features, however the aetiology and management are very
different. Video-EEG is the gold standard diagnostic tool and relies on the
occurrence of seizure activity during assessment to make a diagnosis. Added
complexity arises from the co-existence of epilepsy and NEAD, occurring in a
significant proportion of patients. Comprehensive assessment and
investigation is therefore required to prevent gross mistreatment in this
diagnostically difficult subgroup. We present a case of NEAD with co-existing
epilepsy and the challenges that this may present in clinical practice.