Memory deficits in patients with psychogenic non -epileptic seizures with a history of psychological trauma

Item

Title
Memory deficits in patients with psychogenic non -epileptic seizures with a history of psychological trauma
Identifier
d_2009_2013:c9ad1b85cee4:10030
identifier
10077
Creator
Thorn, Nicole Kristine,
Contributor
Humberto Lizardi
Date
2009
Language
English
Publisher
City University of New York.
Subject
Clinical psychology | memory | non-epileptic | PNES | psychological | seizures | trauma
Abstract
Objective. Studies have shown that memory functioning in psychogenic non-epileptic seizure (PNES) patients is similar to epileptic seizure (ES) patients. However, the majority of studies have not controlled for mood and effort when assessing memory, and few studies have investigated the cause of the memory deficits in PNES patients. This study examined whether PNES and ES patients exhibited similar memory functioning after controlling for mood and effort. It also explored whether a history of psychological trauma correlated with the memory deficits PNES patients. Method. PNES patients (N = 54) were compared to age-, gender-, and education-matched temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) control patients (N = 54) on measures of learning and memory. PNES patients with a history of psychological trauma (N = 27) were compared to PNES patients without a history of psychological trauma (N = 27) on measures of learning and memory. Results. PNES and TLE patients exhibited equivalent learning and memory performance. There was no difference in memory functioning between PNES patients with and without a history of psychological trauma. Both groups demonstrated impairment as compared to published norms on learning and recall. Conclusions. PNES patients, similar to TLE patients, exhibit memory impairment as compared to norms. Psychological trauma does not appear to account for the memory impairment in PNES patients.
Type
dissertation
Source
2009_2013.csv
degree
Ph.D.
Program
Psychology