Quality of life Differences between Patients with Epilepsy and Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizure

Epilepsy is a neurological disease that is associated with recurrent seizures that can be caused by abnormal brain activity. Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES)have psychological bases and their clinical behavior is similar to epileptic attacks. Both patients with seizure and PNES often suffer from psychiatric problems. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life among patients with epilepsy and PNES.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 30 epileptic patients and 30 PNES patients who referred to Namazi and Imam Reza Hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences between 2014 - 2015 and were selected based on convenient sampling method. The quality of life was measured by the demographic questionnaire and Short Form (36) Health Survey. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS  Software.

The mean score of physical functioning, role physical, vitality, the mental component in the epilepsy group was higher. Moreover, the physical pain score was higher in the PNES group.

This study showed that the quality of life in patients with PNES is lower than that in patients with epilepsy.