Ph. D. Project
Title:
Contribution of traumatic vulnerability to epileptogenesis and to the occurrence of epileptic and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
Dates:
2021/01/29 - 2024/01/01
Student:
Deniz ERTAN
Supervisor(s): 
Louis MAILLARD , Coraline HINGRAY
Other supervisor(s):
DR HINGRAY CORALINE (c.hingray@chru-nancy.fr)
Description:
The psychotraumatic dimension is a key aspect to understand the epileptic and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). The principal aim of this
research is to explore the complex and multidirectional interactions between the psychological trauma, epileptic seizures and PNES. The current study also
intends to shed light on the explanatory factors of psychotraumatic impact on the occurrence of the epileptic seizures (epileptogenesis) and investigate the
possible explanations for the co-occurrence of epileptic seizures and PNES. A cohort of 300 patients will be created based on the already existing data and
the data which will be collected prospectively through a standardized procedure. Different neurological, traumatic, psychiatric and psychological factors will
be explored in order to respond three main study purpose: The contribution of a traumatic experience to epileptogenesis, the impact of trauma on the
occurrence of epileptic and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures and the possible interrelationship between epilepsy and PNES based on traumatic
experience. The results of this study will provide an important etiopathogenic comprehension of these two pathologies and also provide a clinical
understating particularly on the traumatic dimension.
Keywords:
Epilepsy, Stress, Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures, Psychological trauma, Psychiatric comorbidity
Department(s): 
Biology, Signals and Systems in Cancer and Neuroscience