How to Pronounce Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizure
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizure Pronunciation
sy-koh-JEN-ik non-ep-ih-LEP-tik SEE-zhur
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
sy
koh
JEN
stress here
ik non
ep
ih
LEP
stress here
tik SEE
zhur
9 syllables
What is Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizure?
A seizure-like episode that looks like epilepsy but is not caused by abnormal electrical discharges in the brain. Abbreviated PNES, it is a form of functional neurological disorder in which psychological stress manifests as physical convulsions or loss of consciousness.
Questions About Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizure
How do you pronounce 'psychogenic non-epileptic seizure'?
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Say it like this: sy-KOH-JEN-ik non-ep-ih-LEP-tik SEE-zhur. The stress falls on the second syllable of "psychogenic" (KOH) and on the third syllable of "epileptic" (LEP). The word "seizure" rhymes with "pleasure."
What does 'psychogenic' mean in plain English?
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"Psychogenic" means something that comes from the mind or emotions rather than from a physical cause. The word breaks down into "psycho-" (mind) and "-genic" (produced by), so it literally means "produced by the mind."
What is the abbreviation for psychogenic non-epileptic seizure?
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The abbreviation is PNES, pronounced by saying each letter: P-N-E-S. You might hear doctors or medical professionals use "PNES" as a shorthand in conversation or in written notes.
What does 'non-epileptic' mean?
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"Non-epileptic" means "not epilepsy." The prefix "non-" means "not," so this part of the term tells you that the seizure-like episode is not caused by the same type of brain activity that causes epilepsy.
What is a simple way to explain what this term means?
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In plain English, a psychogenic non-epileptic seizure is a seizure-like episode that happens because of emotional or psychological stress, not because of electrical problems in the brain. It looks like epilepsy on the outside but has a different cause.
Where does the word 'seizure' come from?
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The word "seizure" comes from Old French and Latin and originally meant "to seize" or "to grab." In medicine, it refers to a sudden, involuntary muscle contraction or loss of consciousness.
What is a common mispronunciation of this term?
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A common mistake is putting the stress on the wrong syllable, like saying "sy-ko-JEN-ik" instead of "sy-KOH-JEN-ik." Remember: the stress goes on the second syllable, KOH, not the third.
How do you break this term into syllables?
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Psychogenic non-epileptic seizure breaks down like this: psy-cho-GEN-ic (4 syllables) + non-ep-i-LEP-tic (5 syllables) + SEI-zure (2 syllables). The longest part is the second word, "non-epileptic."
Can you use this term in a simple sentence?
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Here's an example: "The patient was referred to a specialist to understand whether the episodes were epileptic seizures or psychogenic non-epileptic seizures." This sentence shows how the term is used in medical conversation.