The Rate of Obesity in Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Obesity is common in US population at a rate of 60%. Similarly, the rate of overweight/obesity in epilepsy patients was significantly higher; however, there were no reports in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNESs).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all the records of patients admitted to the epilepsy monitoring unit with the diagnosis of PNES. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and compared to the reported rate of obesity in epilepsy patients (55.2-72%).

Results: The rate of overweight/obese in our cohort with PNES is 69.3%, similar to what has been reported in the epilepsy population. We did not find any correlation between frequency of seizures, duration of symptom onset or antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) with positive effect on weight and the current rate of obesity in PNES patients.

Conclusion: We concluded that overweight/obesity in PNES is similar to the reported rate of the epilepsy patients and may reflect the overall trend of obesity in the general population.




J Neurol Res. 2018;8(1-2):1-3
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr436w