Neuroethics Seminar: Deception in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures

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Filmed on Feb 4, 2016 at Harvard Medical School.
-- About this seminar --
Neurologists who treat epilepsy face substantial difficulty distinguishing "true" seizures caused by abnormal electrical discharges from seizures that are caused by psychological factors (psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, or PNES). The distinction is important, because the treatments for electrical seizures and PNES are very different--PNES can be provoked by a suggestion, whereas electrical seizures cannot.
Can doctors ethically use placebos or suggestion in order to provoke psychogenic nonepileptic seizures? If this is deception, is it justified? How much deception is permissible?
Deception in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures
-- Speakers --
Selim Benbadis MD
University of South Florida College of Medicine
Benjamin Tolchin MD
Harvard Medical School
J. Wesley Boyd MD, PhD
Harvard Medical School Center for Bioethics
---------------------------------
The Neuroethics Seminar Series is designed to explore a diverse range of subjects at the intersection of neuroscience and ethics. In a typical seminar, three expert discussants will come together to explore a topic. In the 90-minute seminar, at least 30 minutes are reserved for discussion and audience participation.
-- Co-sponsors --
The International Neuroethics Society
The Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics, HLS
Center for Law, Brain, and Behavior, MGH
Institute for the Neurosciences, BWH
Center for Brain Science, Harvard University
Department of Neurobiology, HMS
-- With funding from --
Mind Brain Behavior Interfaculty Initiative, Harvard University
The Harvard Brain Initiative Collaborative Seed Grant Program

[@Erin____]

Started having partial seizures as a kid. Doctor diagnosed pseudoseizures during my first visit and told my mom to take me to therapy.
Then as an adult I started having occasional grand mals in addition to the partial seizures. Luckily the second one occurred in the ER, and was witnessed by a medical professional. Finally got the proper diagnosis. Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Primary focal aware w/ secondary generalized seizures.
I’ve been on an anticonvulsant medication (Lamictal) and after increasing dosage to 500mg, I have been seizure free for almost two years now, and am able to drive again.

[@vannevers]

I have PNES and its be great if more med students/doctors were informed on what this is.

[@moniquedewyk6341]

The sound is poor. I have trouble making out what he's saying.

[@mohinabonutulkinovna6876]

Why so interesting content is so unpopular? C'mon

[@lauragusoiu556]

Hi, I am interested in the Tratment of Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures .Could you say something about this because you spech more about how to diagnosis non-epileptic seizure.
Thank you.