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. 2021 Apr;42(4):1423-1428.
doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04652-7. Epub 2020 Aug 13.

The impact of sexual abuse on psychopathology of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

Iolanda Martino  1 , Antonio Cerasa  2   3 , Roberta Vasta  1 , Antonio Gambardella  1 , Angelo Labate  4
Affiliations

The impact of sexual abuse on psychopathology of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

Iolanda Martino et al. Neurol Sci. 2021 Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: In the present study, we evaluated if the presence of sexual abuse in the clinical history of patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) is associated with a different psychopathological profile.

Materials and methods: In a consecutive population of 63 PNES patients, we compared two demographically and clinically matched groups of patients with (no. 15) and without (no. 48) a history of sexual abuse using a comprehensive psychopathological assessment (Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Dissociative Experience Scale, Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire, and Toronto Alexithymia Scale).

Results: We found that the group of patients reporting sexual abuse is characterized by higher scores on Dissociative Experience Scale (p = 0.003) and Beck Depression Inventory (p = 0.001) with respect to the other group. No significant statistical differences in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (p = 0.103), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (p = 0.137), and Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (p = 0.486) were captured. Moreover, we found that the negative effect on dissociate symptoms was also hampered by the increasing of seizure frequency.

Conclusions: This study reinforces the importance of traumatic screening in the clinical spectrum of PNES in order to implement and improve specific therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Depression; Dissociative symptoms; PNES; Sexual abuse.

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