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Sexual abuse and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

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Abstract

Objective

We investigated the frequency of reported sexual abuse in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) in a Middle-Eastern culture (Iran) and tried to characterize the association between a history of sexual abuse and the clinical characteristics of PNES in these patients.

Methods

In this retrospective database study, patients with PNES, who were investigated at Shiraz Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, from 2008 until 2018, were studied. Patients were categorized into two groups: (1) those with a history of sexual abuse and (2) those without such a history.

Results

A total of 314 patients were studied. Twenty-six patients (8.3%) had a history of sexual abuse, while 288 patients (91.7%) denied having such an experience. Sex ratio (OR: 3.53; 95% CI: 1.14–10.89; p = 0.02) and a history of child abuse (OR: 4.85; 95% CI: 1.82–12.96; p = 0.002) were significantly associated with a history of sexual abuse.

Conclusion

Some people with a history of sexual abuse are at risk of developing PNES later in their lives. While social, cultural, and even genetic predisposition may be interacting for such an association to come to play, there is no concrete direct evidence to clarify this link yet. This should be investigated in future international cross-cultural studies and also highlights the need for planning genetic studies in patients with PNES.

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Acknowledgments

This study was in part supported by the National Institute for Medical Research Development Grant (No. 971003). We also appreciate the Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for supporting this study.

Funding

This study was in part supported by the National Institute for Medical Research Development Grant (No. 971003). We also appreciate the Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for supporting this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

    Ali A. Asadi-Pooya & Zahra Bahrami

  2. Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Ali A. Asadi-Pooya

Authors
  1. Ali A. Asadi-Pooya
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  2. Zahra Bahrami
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Contributions

Both authors were involved in the conception, design, review process, and preparing the manuscript. Both have approved this final version and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ali A. Asadi-Pooya.

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Conflict of interest

Ali A. Asadi-Pooya, M.D.: Honoraria from Cobel Daruo; Royalty: Oxford University Press (Book publication). Zahra Bahrami, M.D.: none.

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Asadi-Pooya, A.A., Bahrami, Z. Sexual abuse and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Neurol Sci 40, 1607–1610 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-019-03887-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-019-03887-3

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