Citation

Alhafez L, Masri A. Int. J. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med. 2019; 6(4): 155-157.

Affiliation

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Child Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Jordan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Mustashfá al-Malik Fayṣal al-Takhaṣṣuṣī, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijpam.2019.05.007

PMID

31890842

PMCID

PMC6926182

Abstract

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.

© 2019 Publishing services provided by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (General Organization), Saudi Arabia.

Language: en

Keywords

Bullying; Children; Jordan; Psychogenic non- epileptic seizures