[Errors in the differential diagnosis of different types of nonepileptic paroxysms in the initial period of their occurrence].

As many as 635 patients were referred to the Antiepileptic Center for counselling and examination. They had been diagnosed to suffer from epilepsy or the epileptic syndrome within the period from several days to 3 years since the moment of the first paroxysms. In 70 patients, the epileptic nature of the paroxysms was not confirmed, i. e. the primary diagnosis turned out to be erroneous. The paroxysms estimated at first as epileptic were systematized. The basis was formed by vegetative or vegetative visceral paroxysms of different character and gravity, which went, in the majority of cases, with loss of consciousness and, in rare cases, with unmarked convulsive component. 10 patients subjected to the EEG manifested fairly moderate epileptiform alterations and only one patient demonstrated paroxysmal diffuse epileptic activity. The author provides a number of clinical differential diagnostic criteria for the nonepileptic paroxysmal states that occurred for the first time. It is indicated that the EEG, the biochemical and other paraclinical methods of the diagnosis made in the initial disease stage may turn out abortive.