An estimate of the prevalence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures

Abstract

The prevalence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures is difficult to estimate. We propose an estimate based on a calculation. We used the following data, which are known or have been estimated, and are generally accepted. A prevalence of epilepsy of 0.5-1%; a proportion of intractable epilepsy of 20-30%; a percentage of these referred to epilepsy centers of 20-50%; and a percentage of patients referred to epilepsy centers that are psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: 10-20%. Using the low estimates, the prevalence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures would be 1/50 000. Using the high estimates, the prevalence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures would be 1/3000. The prevalence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures is somewhere between 1/50 000 and 1/3000, or 2 to 33 per 100 000, making it a significant neurologic condition.