Teddy bears: An observational finding in patients with non-epileptic events

Abstract

The identification of clinical signs distinguishing pseudoseizures from epileptic events has received considerable attention during the past few years.1 A pseudoseizure is a paroxysmal “nonepileptic event” without concurrent electrographic ictal pattern when recorded. These events may be the result of an organic/physiologic or psychogenic problem.1 The prevalence of nonepileptic psychogenic events (NEPE) has been found to be between 5%2 and 17 to 30%.3 The diagnosis of NEPE may be difficult, especially in those cases in which the semiology is similar to that seen in some seizures. Observed behaviors provide basis for differentiating between NEPE and epileptic events, including particular motor manifestations, vocalizations, and emotionality.4,5⇓ Confirmatory testing with video-EEG monitoring is necessary, but other tests, including neuropsychological evaluation, induction testing, and measurement of serum prolactin, may be helpful.6 An interesting observation noted over the years in our inpatient video-EEG monitoring population is that many nonretarded patients bring various toy animals (e.g., teddy bears) …