Functional Seizures analyzed by the Symptom Amplification Model of Neurolog: a distinguished group in Functional Neurological Disorders? A pilot study.

Abstract

Functional Seizures (FS) are non-epileptic seizures, of which the underlying neuropsychopathology remains unclear. FS can be regarded as symptoms of Functional Neurological Disorder and are therefore included in the Symptom Amplification Model (SAM) of Neurology [1]. As in other psychobiosocial conditions, functional seizures are often linked to psychological trauma, problems with sensory integration, and cognitive dysfunction [2,3]. According to Asadi-Pooya and Sperling (2015), FS is one of the most common Functional Neurological Disorders (FND), with a prevalence of 1.4-4.9 per 100.000 and three times as many females as males [4]. NeuroLog is a digital platform that uses the Symptom Amplification Model (SAM) to analyze transdiagnostic factors that affect symptom severity across biopsychosocial conditions [1]. Neurolog examined continuous, anonymized data analysis of patients with FS logs, providing new insights into the transdiagnostic factors and underlying mechanisms of this specific symptomatology.In this pilot study, Neurolog compared ecological log analyses of functional seizures (FS) with those of other FND presentations. The results strongly support FS as a separable, sensory-linked, paroxysmal subtype with distinct emotional and temporal dynamics.