Development of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in response to auditory hallucinations

Summary 

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures can co-exist with epileptic seizures. Differentiating between the two is central to appropriate management. We report the case of a patient with established focal epilepsy who developed psychogenic non-epileptic seizures in direct response to second-person auditory hallucinations. To our knowledge, this is the first description of such an occurrence. These non-epileptic seizures improved with treatment of the underlying psychosis.

The relationship between epilepsy and psychosis is outlined, and the possible causes and nosology of these psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are discussed.

Keywords: Non-epileptic seizure, Interictal psychosis, Auditory hallucination, Temporal lobe resection, Oligodendroglioma