Understanding Nonepileptic Seizures: Causes & Triggers

Nonepileptic seizures are defined as seizures that do not occur due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Nonepileptic seizures resemble epileptic seizures, though their causes are much different.

Physical Causes

• According to the Epilepsy foundation, these seizures occur due to sudden change or disruption in the brain function. This can include metabolic disturbances or cardiac arrhythmia.

Emotional Causes

• Nonepileptic seizures occur due to emotional trauma. The extreme anxiety and depression from emotional trauma trigger the disturbances in brain function that cause the initial seizure.

Risk Factors

• Patients who have experienced traumatic life events, such as rape, physical abuse, incest, death of a loved one and divorce, are at a higher risk of developing nonepileptic seizures.

Considerations

• Nonepileptic seizures may be triggered by the memory of the traumatic experiences. High amounts of anxiety and depression can also act as triggers for the seizures.

Treatment

• Because nonepileptic seizures are typically caused by traumatic experiences, patients are prescribed therapy to help them cope with those events. Patients with these seizures do not respond to epilepsy medication.