The diagnosis and treatment of epileptic pseudocrises

: We evaluated 30 patients with a tentative diagnosis of epilepsy who did not respond to anticonvulsant therapy. Crisis were induced through suggestion with simultaneous EEG recording. Pseudoseizures were revealed in 10 patients. A depressive syndrome was present in 5 and other psychiatric disorders in the rest. Psychiatric therapy was effective in suppressing seizures in 7 compliant patients. We feel that suggestive induction of crisis is an effective diagnostic tool for identification of pseudoseizures.