Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, anticipatory grief and limited access to medical care.

Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) in the context of meningoencephalitis can occur with sufficient stressors. Video-EEG is a critical diagnostic tool in such complex cases. Once the diagnosis of PNES is confirmed by video-EEG, psychiatric consultation with psychotherapeutic intervention to address underlying psychopathology and specific stressors that led to these conversion symptoms is required. Clinicians need to understand the importance of cultural themes, including the economics of healthcare, and anticipatory grief as causative stressors in pseudoseizures.