Non-Epileptic Attacks

Who created this site?

This site was created by a group of healthcare professionals interested in developing effective treatments for non-epileptic attacks. We work (or worked) at the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Sheffield, United Kingdom. Our group consists of neurologists, psychologists and psychotherapists. Between us we have many years of experience of working with patients with non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD).

The picture shows you what we looked like when we first put together this website.

About this site

This site is designed to provide patients diagnosed with NEAD and their families with more information about the disorder. The site may also help others who come across NEAD in their private or professional lives. 

Many different names are used for non-epileptic attacks (NEAs), for instance psychogenic seizures, dissociative seizures, functional seizures, conversion seizures or pseudoseizures. These names all describe a condition in which brief attacks which look a bit like epileptic seizures occur without a clear medical cause, so the information on this website should still be relevant.

This website is not about non-epileptic attacks explained by obvious medical causes such as fainting, transient ischaemic attacks or blackouts related to low blood sugar.

Browse the following sections to find out more about NEAD.

What is on this site?

From our experience of meeting people with non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD), we know that when people first receive the diagnosis they are often very confused. People may have thought that they have epilepsy for many years and do not understand what the new diagnosis means.

Patients often hear a short explanation of NEAD from their doctor and are then sent away with no further support.

We hope this site will provide you with the most up-to-date information about what NEAs are, what causes them, and what the best treatments are. We also aim to provide you, your family and friends the best advice on what you can do to help yourself.

The site contains many self-help ideas and suggestions about what you should or shouldn't try doing. We hope that these will help you to feel in control of your disorder and find the best treatment possible.