School bullying: an increasingly recognized etiology for psychogenic non-epileptic seizures: report of two cases

• Main Authors: Laila Alhafez, Amira Masri
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2019-12-01
• Series: International Journal of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352646719300997

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are seizure-like episodes that are not associated with changes on electroencephalogram. They are the result of a wide range of possible psychological stressors including being a victim of bullying. Currently, reports regarding PNES in bullied patients are lacking. In this case report, we describe two cases; the first is a 10-year-old boy who presented to the emergency room once for visual loss and another for inability to walk. The other is a 12-year-old boy who has experienced recurrent episodes of loss of consciousness. Based on the negative investigations for any other possible diagnosis, and upon the nature of the episodes, a diagnosis of PNES was made after a history of bullying victimization was revealed. This suggests that PNES can result from psychological distress caused by school bullying victimization in children and highlights the importance of screening for bullying in patients with PNES. Keywords: Psychogenic non- epileptic seizures, Bullying, Children, Jordan