Abstract
Background
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) resemble epileptic seizures and are often misdiagnosed as epilepsy.
Objective
To investigate the frequency of PNES and to calculate the economic burden of the patients who admitted to video-electroencephalographicmonitoring (VEM) to obtain a diagnosis of epilepsy in order to apply for disability retirement.
Methods
The present retrospective study included 134 patients who required disability reports between 2013 and 2019 and had their definite diagnoses after VEM. Following VEM, the patients were divided into three groups: epilepsy, PNES, and epilepsy + PNES.
Results
In total, 22.4% (n = 30) of the patients were diagnosed with PNES, 21.6% (n = 29) with PNES and epilepsy, and 56% (n = 75), with epilepsy. The frequency of PNES among all patients was of 44% (n = 59). In patients with PNES alone, the annual cost of using anti-seizure medication was of 160.67 ± 94.04 dollars; for psychostimulant drugs, it was of 148.3 ± 72.48 dollars a year; and the mean direct cost for diagnostic procedures was of 582.9 ± 330.0 (range: 103.52–1601.3) dollars.
Conclusions
Although it is challenging to determine the qualitative and quantitative total cost in these patient groups, early diagnosis and sociopsychological support will reduce the additional financial burden on the health system and increase the quality of life of the patients.
Keywords
Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures; Epilepsy; Retirement; Electroencephalography; Financial Stress