Question
What is a pseudoseizure?
Answer
Pseudoseizures are similar to true seizures but are caused by abnormal brain currents that have not been detected. In the emergency room, pseudoseizures can be difficult to distinguish from true seizures and are often hard to diagnose. For some patients, distracting them (such as by shouting or flashing lights) can be an effective method to quickly stop a seizure. If the patient can undergo an EEG, it can confirm the diagnosis. In true seizures, serum prolactin levels should at least double, while in pseudoseizures, serum prolactin levels remain within the normal range. Since pseudoseizures are often caused by underlying true seizures, they are rarely diagnosed in the emergency room.