Table 2.
Factors influencing outcome of patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNESs).
| Study | Year | n | Factors associated with “good outcome” | Factors associated with “poor outcome” |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reuber et al. [11] | 2007 | 48 | Better education, motionless spells, shorter history of condition, attending clinic accompanied | |
| Sigurdardottir and Olafsson [3] | 2007 | 22 | None statistically significant | Comorbid psychiatric disorders, negativism (passive avoidant behaviour, dissatisfaction with daily life) |
| Carton et al. [12] | 2003 | 84 | Relief reaction to diagnosis, employment | Lack of acceptance/understanding of diagnosis, continuation of AEDs therapy |
| An et al. [14] | 2010 | 64 | Young age at onset | None statistically significant |
| Ettinger et al. [17] | 1999 | 43 | Good social support, good relationships with peers as a child | Pending litigation |
| Ettinger et al. [28] | 1999 | 76 | Accepting the diagnosis | None statistically significant |
| Irwin et al. [7] | 2000 | 35 | None statistically significant | Comorbid epilepsy |
| Kanner et al. [22] | 1999 | 45 | Single major depressive episode | Recurrent episodes of depression, personality disorder, dissociative symptoms, chronic abuse (physical/emotional/sexual) |
| McDade and Brown [8] | 1992 | 16 | None statistically significant | IQ < 80, past history of violent behaviour |
| McKenzie et al. [10] | 2010 | 260 | Bullying as the antecedent, male gender, learning disability | Depression/anxiety, social security payments, women, PNES only medically unexplained symptom |
| Meierkord et al. [15] | 1991 | 70 | Female gender, independent lifestyle, absence of comorbid epilepsy | Male gender, coexisting epilepsy |
| Reuber et al. [11] | 2003 | 164 | Low scores on self-report measures of inhibitedness, compulsivity, somatization, depersonalization | Co-morbid epilepsy, poorer education, loss of consciousness, motor features, older age at onset/diagnosis |
| Selwa et al. [20] | 2002 | 85 | Catatonic type, shorter duration of condition | Thrashing type |
| Silva et al. [16] | 2001 | 17 | Acceptance of diagnosis, independent lifestyle | None statistically significant |
| Wyllie et al. [5] | 1990 | 21 | None statistically significant | None statistically significant |