Pseudo-epileptic seizures are different from epileptic seizures in terms of how they differently affect patients. For epileptic seizures, excessive electrical discharges of brain cells usually accompany the seizures. This is contrary to pseudo-epileptic seizures that occur in the absence of brain discharges. Those suffering from pseudo-epileptic seizure also show symptoms of amnesia when attacked by the pseudo-seizures. Research shows that conversion patients, or those with pseudo-epileptic seizures, are averagely or highly responsive to hypnotic suggestions. Hypnotic regression has also been used in some studies to distinguish between epileptic and pseudo-epileptic seizures. There has been considerable success in differentiating the two conditions using hypnosis, hence making it one of the tools that can be effectively used to diagnose patients.
A research conducted by Kuyk (1995) tried to examine whether hypnosis can be used to differentiate between pseudo-epileptic and epileptic seizures, as well as to determine whether individuals suffering from pseudo-epileptic seizures are more hypnotizable than those with epileptic seizures. In this study, thirteen patients with seizures were asked to participate. Participants were first assessed on their Hypnotizability and memory of past events during seizures. They were then hypnotized just before they experience seizures. They were then asked during a post-hypnosis interview to report on what they could remember. The data collected from the interviews were analyzed based on what the participants could remember during the waking and the post-hypnosis interviews. It was determined that patients with pseudo-epileptic seizures were more hypnotizable compared to those suffering from epileptic seizures. However, the researchers noted that hypnosis was not very effective in distinguishing between the two seizures. More extensive studies are needed to examine the issue further.
It follows that conversion disorder can be managed using hypnotherapy in addition to pharmacological interventions. Psychological interventions, which include hypnosis, have been found to be helpful in managing non-epileptic seizures by several researchers. A study conducted by Rafiq & Zaheer (2019) to examine whether a hypnotic technique called Circle Therapy as used to manage the condition had any effect on the patients. In this study, a 27-year old lady who had been referred to a neurosurgeon because of her non-epileptic seizures, was managed using the therapy under hypnosis. The patient was taken through a suggestibility test, in which different suggestions were given to the patient to test their outcome. This session was followed by a hypnotic induction in which the patient was taken through a relaxation process before a hypnotic suggestion was administered. The hypnotic suggestion involved exercises that could help delete the images or memories that brought about the seizures. The whole therapy process is what is referred to as Circle Therapy.
It was determined that the hypnotic technique was effective in managing non-epileptic seizures. The CT sessions showed positive effect on non-epileptic seizures, as the patient showed improvement even after 11 months following the therapy. The technique was administered during a hyper-suggestible hypnotic state, and its effectiveness can be attributed to this fact. In this therapy, hypnotic induction was carried out using the Kappasonian Model of Hypnosis (KMH). According to this model, the hyper-suggestible state is attained through the use of specific messages or information, changing their thinking process, all of which helps the client to enter a hyper-suggestible state.
Thus, these studies have confirmed that hypnotherapy can be an effective intervention in the management of pseudo-epileptic seizures. The researchers have shown that individuals suffering from this condition are highly hypnotizable, or are highly responsive to hypnotic suggestions. This characteristic makes it easy to apply hypnotic techniques in the management of the condition, as patients are likely to benefit a lot from the therapy.
References
Kuyk, J., Jacobs, L. D., Aldenkamp, A. P., Meinardi, H., Spinhoven, P., & Van Dycki, R. (1995). Pseudo-epileptic seizures: hypnosis as a diagnostic tool. Seizure, 4(2), 123-128.
Rafiq, M., & Zaheer, S. (2019). Management of non-epileptic seizures through Hypnosis: a case study. Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS), 14(1), 37-41.
Melvin S. Marsh is a certified hypnotherapist serving Atlanta GA, Augusta GA, Statesboro GA, and Savannah GA. He performs hypnotherapy appointments both in person and worldwide virtually. He can be reached at www.afterhourshypnotherapy.com .
