Prevalence and risk factors of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) among adult Sudanese epileptic patients who attend Dauod charity clinic, Sudan, 2021

Abstract

Background: Seizures can present in many diseases like epilepsy which is in the list of the commonest neurological diseases. Some seizures can present as psychogenic seizures. Epilepsy can also be associated with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.Objectives: To assess prevalence and risk factors of psychogenic non-epileptic among adult Sudanese epileptic patients.Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional facility-based study was conducted during Jan-Feb 2021 at Daoud Charity Clinic in Omdurman city, Sudan. Data collection was conducted through an interview-based structured questionnaire and there was a total number of 99 participants who were included in this study. Results: Overall, in this study there were 99 epileptic patients. 57% were females, 79% of the patients reside in Khartoum, and 32% reached secondary school. The main type of epilepsy was generalized tonic clonic (68%) followed by focal with impairment (11%). The majority of patients have been diagnosed with epilepsy for more than three years (65%). Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures history was found in 29 (29%). The PNES prevalence was significantly higher in patients with social problems and depression (p value 0.005, 0.00 respectively). Patients with depression were having 14 times risk to have psychogenic non-epileptic seizures than patients without depression (CI 95%: ##-##). Most of the participants had no sexual or physical abuse history, school/university/work refusal, and\or absence (94%, 84%, and 63% respectively).Conclusion: A considerable high prevalence rate of PNES can be found among adult epileptic patients. Epileptic patients suffering from social problems or/and depression and poor economic status have a higher tendency to develop psychogenic non-epileptic seizures especially after two to three years of treatment and above.