Disorders of the Nervous System
Author: MANUEL FACUNDO LATINI | Email: latinifacundo@gmail.com
Manuel Facundo Latini 1°, Silvia Oddo 2°, Ana Cecilia Anzulovich 3°, Kochen Silvia 4°
1° Labcron, IMIBIO-SL
2° ENyS – UNAJ – Hospital El Cruce
Introduction: Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) account for 20% of patients referred to epilepsy referral centers. An association between alterations in sleep-wake patterns and PNES has been described. The aim of this study is to assess sleep disturbances and associated parameters in a cohort of PNES patients compared to epilepsy controls.
Methods: All consecutively admitted patients to the VEEG unit diagnosed with PNES between 2017 and 2020 were included. Controls with epilepsy were selected, matched for age and sex. Patients were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, a MEQ questionnaire and a sleep diary. Chi-squared test, paired t-test, and Pearson’s test were used for statistical analysis.
Results: A total of 26 patients in the PNES group and 26 in the control group (CG) were included in the study. Significantly worse sleep quality (P = 0.003) and increased daytime sleepiness (P = 0.04) were observed in the PNES group. No differences in chronotype were observed among patients. The presence of nocturnal events was not associated with poorer sleep quality.
Conclusions: Patients with PNES exhibit alterations in sleep quality and increased daytime sleepiness, which were not related to nocturnal events, sleep duration, or the hypnotic effects of medications. Correcting sleep disorders could prove useful in improving the quality of life for these patients.