FAQs about psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES)
Are psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) more common in men or women?
Although PNES occur in both sexes, they are more common in women (out of 10 individuals who develop PNES, between 6 to 7 are women). When PNES start before the age of 12, the frequency of boys and girls developing the disorder is roughly the same.
Although there are no confirmed reasons for this sex difference, many of the risk factors for PNES (e.g., migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, post-traumatic stress disorder) are more frequent in women. This may result in greater numbers of women who develop PNES. Additionally, men tend to express distress differently than women (for instance, men may rely more on substances to diminish distress). In children and adolescents, PNES is also associated with challenging experiences (bullying, loss of parent or witness to violence), though not necessarily sexual and physical trauma.
