Qualitative analysis of written accounts of functional/dissociative seizures.
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B August 1, 2025 Qing Xue, Gregg H Rawlings, Steven C Schachter et al. 1 citation
Functional/dissociative seizures (FDS) involve a complex mix of symptoms spanning physical, emotional, autonomic, and cognitive domains, according to personal accounts from 75 authors with FDS. The most common symptom domain was consciousness, mentioned by 63 of 75 authors, particularly impaired awareness, self-control, and disconnection. Motor symptoms appeared in 58 narratives, including excessive, reduced, or mixed movements. Sensations such as pain were reported by 13 authors. Arousal symptoms, especially hyperarousal, appeared in 20 accounts. Emotional symptoms, particularly anxiety, were noted by 22 authors. Cognitive issues like foggy thinking and memory deficits were described in 14 writings. These detailed descriptions may aid earlier diagnosis.