Heart Rate Variability Parameters During Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures: Comparison Between Patients With Pure PNES and Comorbid Epilepsy

Introduction: Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) may resemble epileptic seizures. There are few data about ictal ANS activity alterations induced by PNES in patients with pure PNES (pPNES) compared to PNES with comorbid epilepsy (PNES/ES). We aimed to compare heart rate variability (HRV) parameters and hence autonomic regulation in PNES in epileptic and non-epileptic patients. Methods: We obtained HRV data from video-electroencephalography recordings in 22 patients presenting PNES (11 pPNES and 11 PNES/ES) in awake, and supine states. We calculated HRV parameters in both time and frequency domains including low frequency (LF) power, high frequency power (HF), LF/HF ratio, square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent R wave intervals (RMSSD) and the standard deviation of all consecutive R wave intervals (SDNN). We also evaluated approximate entropy (ApEn), cardiosympathetic index (CSI), and cardiovagal index (CVI). Four conditions were considered: basal condition (BAS), before PNES (PRE), during PNES (ICT) and after PNES (POST). Results: HRV analysis showed significantly higher ICT LF and LF/HF ratio vs. each condition. We also found higher POST HF vs. PRE and BAS, lower RRI in ICT vs. each condition and PRE vs. BAS. POST RMSSD was significantly higher compared to all other states. ICT CSI was significantly higher compared to all other states, whereas CSI was significantly lower in POST vs. PRE and PRE CVI lower than ICT and higher in POST vs. BAS and PRE. Also, ICT ApEn was lower than in all other states. Higher LF in pPNES vs. PNES/ES was also evident when compared across groups. Significance: A few studies examined HRV alterations in PNES, reporting high sympathetic tone (although less evident than in epileptic seizures). Our data suggest a sympathetic overdrive before and during PNES followed by a post-PNES increase in vagal tone. A sympathovagal imbalance was more evident in pPNES as compared to PNES/ES.