Exorcism and Nonepileptic or Pseudosiezures

The discussion of the painting (1) The Miracles of St Ignatius Loyola might seem to disparage religion. My consultation experience and that of others (2) with ‘pseudoseizures’ or nonepileptic seizures and conversion disorders , the syndromes of the discussion, suggests that the syndromes may be variants of panic disorder and successfully biologically treated as such. Hypothetically the syndromes might be induced by the anxiogenic methods of sodium lactate infusion (3) or high dose caffeine ingestion (4). In reference to the painting and its discussion, if religious experience restructures the psychodynamic and psychophysiology of the sufferer, then indeed religious experience might be helpful.

1. Harris JC. Exorcism: The Miracles of St Ignatius Loyola: Peter Paul Rubens. JAMA Psychiatry. 2014;71(8):866 2. Snyder SL, Rosenbaum DH, Rowan AJ, Strain JJ. SCID diagnosis of panic disorder in psychogenic seizure patients. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1994 Summer;6(3):261-266. 3. Liebowitz MR, Fyer AJ, Gorman JM, Dillon D, Appleby IL, Levy G, Anderson S, Levitt M, Palij M, Davies SO, et al. Lactate provocation of panic attacks. I. Clinical and behavioral findings. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1984;41(8):764-770. 4. Charney DS, Heninger GR, Jatlow PI. Increased anxiogenic effects of caffeine in panic disorders. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 1985;42(3):233-243.