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Dissociative disorder
My mother has been having dissociative seizures daily for the past 6 months. During an episode, she suddenly closes her eyes, becomes completely unresponsive, her right hand shakes, followed by heavy complete body shaking jumping hurting herself unknowingly and side-to-side head movements for 20 mins. She does not respond to sound or touch throughout the episode. She has also been seeing black shadows and hearing whispers once or twice a day. She has been under psychiatric treatment for 5 months. Previous medications (Daxid 50 mg and Quetiapine 25 mg) did not help. Now taking Duvanta 20 mg (afternoon), Duvanta 30 mg (night), and Zolfresh 10 mg (night). The hallucination-like symptoms have reduced, but the seizures remain unchanged not even 1% reduced. She is also unable to sleep without medication. Is this condition treatable? How long does recovery usually take? Would you recommend evaluation at NIMHANS, Bangalore, or another specialized neuropsychiatry center? Pleading for help.
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Hello. I'm sorry to hear that your mother and your family are going through such a difficult time.
From what you've described, her symptoms are significantly affecting her daily functioning and have continued despite several months of treatment. While dissociative (non-epileptic) seizures can be treated, it's very important to first ensure that the diagnosis is accurate, as episodes with prolonged unresponsiveness and persistent seizures may require further neurological and psychiatric evaluation.
Since there has been little to no improvement despite treatment, I would recommend seeking a comprehensive assessment at a specialized center such as NIMHANS or another multidisciplinary hospital where psychiatrists, neurologists, and clinical psychologists can evaluate her together. Additional investigations, if indicated, may help clarify the diagnosis and guide treatment.
Recovery varies from person to person and depends on the underlying cause, how long the symptoms have been present, and the treatment approach. Many individuals benefit from a combination of appropriate medication (when indicated), psychotherapy, stress management, and family support. However, it isn't possible to predict a specific timeline without a detailed assessment.
Until she is evaluated, please ensure her safety during episodes by removing nearby objects that could cause injury and avoid restraining her forcefully. If an episode lasts unusually long, she has difficulty breathing, sustains a serious injury, or this is a new or changing pattern of symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately.
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A thorough reassessment at a specialized center would be a reasonable next step. Wishing your mother a safe recovery.
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I'm sorry your mother and your family are going through this. Daily episodes for 6 months are understandably distressing. If she has been diagnosed with dissociative (psychogenic non-epileptic) seizures (PNES), these episodes are real and involuntary—they are not under her conscious control.
The fact that her hallucination-like symptoms have improved suggests that the medication may be helping some symptoms, but the persistence of the daily seizure-like episodes indicates that her treatment plan likely needs to be reviewed. It is also important to ensure that the diagnosis is correct, as epileptic seizures and dissociative seizures can sometimes appear similar.
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I would recommend discussing this lack of improvement with her treating psychiatrist and asking whether a referral to a specialized neuropsychiatry or epilepsy center is appropriate. A center such as NIMHANS, Bengaluru, or another tertiary care hospital with neurology, psychiatry, and video EEG facilities can help confirm the diagnosis and guide further treatment if needed.
Treatment for dissociative seizures often requires both psychiatric care and trauma-informed psychotherapy, rather than medication alone.
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Do not stop or change her medications without consulting her psychiatrist.
If she has not already undergone a thorough neurological evaluation (including video EEG when indicated), discuss this with her doctors.
During an episode, focus on keeping her safe from injury rather than trying to forcibly wake or restrain her.
Continue regular psychiatric follow-up and share a diary of seizure frequency, duration, and possible triggers.
Recovery varies from person to person. Some people improve over months, while others require longer-term multidisciplinary treatment. Because she is having daily episodes despite 5 months of treatment, I do think it would be reasonable to seek a second opinion at a specialized neuropsychiatry center such as NIMHANS or a comparable tertiary hospital. This does not mean recovery is impossible—it means she may benefit from a more comprehensive reassessment and a multidisciplinary treatment plan.
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Dissociative seizures are psychosomatic in origin.
The subconscious and deep rooted psychological changes need to be addressed along with neuromuscular changes.
It needs to be treated in a holistic approach for complete recovery.
It can be well treated with counseling sessions and homeopathic medicine effectively and without any side effects.
Allopathic medicines have lot of side effects and addiction.
You need an expert psychologist who is a good homeopathic physician.
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I have been working as a Homeopathic Psychiatrist and Counseling psychologist for the last 17 years of experience. You can contact me through an online appointment for further assistance.
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Dissociative seizures are involuntary physical expressions of deep psychological distress. Medication alone cannot cure them; targeted psychotherapy is required to heal the underlying nervous system imbalance.
Next Steps
Visit Dr. Rupali Mohbe at Birdyme (208 CENTRAL sangath by IPL, Motera, Ahmedabad) or book an online session today for a specialized assessment.
Health Tips
practice deep breathing to calm the nervous system, and maintain a strict, screen-free evening routine to improve sleep naturally.
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Thank you for sharing your mother’s condition. It must be very distressing for both your mother and your family to witness these episodes every day. Living with uncertainty about her recovery can understandably create stress and anxiety for everyone involved.
Since the episodes have continued despite treatment for several months, it would be advisable to seek a second opinion from a multidisciplinary team. You may consider NIMHANS, Bengaluru, or another tertiary neuropsychiatry centre where both a neurologist and psychiatrist can evaluate her together. In some cases, additional investigations (such as EEG or other neurological assessments) may be needed to confirm the exact cause of the episodes.
Recovery depends on the underlying diagnosis. Some conditions improve with appropriate medication and psychological treatment, while others require longer-term management. Because your mother has shown some improvement in the voices and shadow-like experiences but not in the seizure-like episodes, a comprehensive re-evaluation would be appropriate.
Until then, ensure she takes her medications as prescribed, try to prevent injuries during an episode, and keep a record of the frequency, duration, and any triggers, as this information will be useful for the treating team.
I hope she receives the right evaluation and treatment soon.
Dr Namita Ranjan
Counselling Psychologist
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Mr. Sandeep Kumar
Psychologist
15 yrs exp
Chandigarh
Dear concerned,
This condition is treatable, but it needs a proper re-evaluation—rule out neurological causes and consider trauma-focused therapy along with psychiatric care.
A detailed assessment at a specialized center like NIMHANS can help guide the right treatment plan and recovery may take time but improvement is possible.
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Ms. Pooja Gupta
Psychologist
9 yrs exp
Delhi
Hi,
Yesâthis condition can be treatable, but given the **daily 20-minute episodes despite 5â6 months of treatment**, the diagnosis should be **re-evaluated** to confirm whether these are truly dissociative (psychogenic) seizures or another neurological condition such as Epilepsy. A comprehensive assessment at a specialized center like National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences is a very good idea, where neurology and psychiatry can evaluate her together, often including **video EEG monitoring**. Recovery time varies widelyâfrom months to longerâdepending on the underlying diagnosis and response to appropriate treatment, so a specialist reassessment is the most important next step. If she develops prolonged episodes with injury, difficulty breathing, or new weakness afterward, seek emergency medical care immediately.
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Consult
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seek help
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Ms. Simran Shah
Counselling Psychologist
7 yrs exp
Pune
There are consistent symptoms I would recommend to get detailed assessments from NIMHANS and the condition can be manageable. With the help of a psychiatrist and Psychologist improvement can be seen.
Next Steps
Visit NIMHANS to start with the treatment
Health Tips
Group Therapy sessions can also be helpful in later stage
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Ms. Smriti
Counselling Psychologist
19 yrs exp
Bangalore
You can connect with psychiatrist
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Ms. Pooja Bhargava
Psychologist
10 yrs exp
Delhi
Persistent symptoms despite treatment suggest the need for a comprehensive reassessment. A detailed reassessment at a specialized neuropsychiatry center like NIMHANS would be advisable
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Disclaimer : The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.