Mohamad Z. Koubeissi and Nabil J. Azar (eds.)Epilepsy Board Review10.1007/978-1-4939-6774-2_12

12. Imitators of Epilepsy

Dewi Frances T. Depositario-Cabacar¹ and Nabil J. Azar²

(1)

Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Children’s National Medical Center, George Washington University, 111 Michigan Avenue, Washington, DC 20010, USA

(2)

Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37212, USA

Dewi Frances T. Depositario-Cabacar

Email: Dcabacar@childrensnational.org

Nabil J. Azar (Corresponding author)

Email: dr.nabil.azar@gmail.com

Keywords

EpilepsySeizuresImitatorsNonepileptic paroxysmal disordersNeurocardiogenic syncopeVasovagal syncopePsychogenic nonepileptic seizuresPNESVideo-EEG

List of the common nonepileptic paroxysmal disorders by age:

A.
Infants and neonates:
Sandifer syndrome,

Self-gratification syndrome,

Benign myoclonus of early infancy,

Shuddering attacks,

Startle disease or hyperekplexia,

Benign neonatal myoclonus,

Jitteriness, head banging and body rocking,

Spasmodic torticollis, and

Apnea.
B.
Older children:
Breath-holding spells,

Movement disorders (tics, paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis, etc.),

Parasomnias and sleep disorders,

Migraine headaches,

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures,

Behavioral disorders (rage attacks, inattentiveness), and

Syncope.
C.
Adolescences and adults:
Nonepileptic psychogenic seizures (also known as pseudoseizures),

Syncope,

Panic attacks and hyperventilation,

Migraines, and

Parasomnias and sleep disorders (such as narcolepsy and cataplexy).

Sandifer syndrome: This syndrome consists of intermittent abnormal posturing such as stiffening and opisthotonic posturing usually primarily due to gastroesophageal reflux. It is usually associated with feedings. It can be mistaken as paroxysmal dystonia, epileptic spasms, or tonic seizures. This usually improves with antireflux medications.

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