An international study of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on characteristics of functional seizures

Ali A Asadi-Pooya 1, Eugen Trinka 2, Coraline Hingray 3, Ahmad Fawaz 4, Ioannis Karakis 5, Nirmeen A Kishk 6, Mohsen Farazdaghi 7, Julia Höfler 8, Alexis Tarrada 9, Abdulaziz Ashkanani 10, Aida Risman 11, Haytham Rizk 12

Affiliations

01 February 2022

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doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108530

Abstract

Objective: We investigated whether the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the clinical characteristics of patients with functional seizure (FS) (at the time of diagnosis) in a large multicenter international study.

Methods: This was a retrospective study. We investigated all patients with FS, who were admitted at the epilepsy monitoring units at six centers in the world: 1. Shiraz, Iran; 2. Salzburg, Austria; 3. Nancy, France; 4. Atlanta, USA; 5. Kuwait City, Kuwait; and 6. Cairo, Egypt. Patients were studied during two time periods: admitted in 2018-2019 (pre-COVID era) and 2020-2021 (COVID era).

Results: Three hundred and twenty-six patients were studied. Two hundred and twenty-four (68.7%) patients were diagnosed before and 102 (31.3%) persons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Only, a history of family dysfunction was significantly associated with the COVID-19 pandemic era (Odds Ratio: 1.925, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.099-3.371; p = 0.022). A low level of education might also be associated with FS during the COVID-19 pandemic, at least in some cultures (e.g., the Middle-East).

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has not affected the clinical characteristics of patients with FS (at the time of diagnosis). However, a history of family dysfunction was significantly more frequently associated with FS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multiagency integration of law enforcement responses, social services, and social awareness is recommended to address family dysfunction and domestic violence and support the victims during this pandemic.

Keywords: COVID; Coronavirus; Dissociative; PNES; Seizure.

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New-onset functional seizures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asadi-Pooya AA, Farazdaghi M.Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2022 Aug;219:107310. doi: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2022.107310. Epub 2022 May 28.PMID: 35660168 Free PMC article.

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