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Difference between Absence Seizures and Dissociation
When aberrant electrical impulses are sent between the two sides of the brain, it is called an absence seizure. When a person is suffering from dissociation, they become detached from or disengage from reality.
What are Absence Seizures?
Petit mal seizures (also known as absence seizures) manifest visually as looking blankly for a few seconds or rapid blinking (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). When aberrant electric activity develops in both the left and right hemispheres of the brain at the same time, it is considered to be a generalized seizure (grand mal seizure).
In the midst of an absence seizure, a person may appear to be daydreaming because of their abrupt onset of staring spells, during which they may cease all movement and stare in a single direction. After around 15 seconds (some sources suggest 30 seconds or less), the episode ends on its own, and normal alertness is immediately restored. After a seizure, the person often has no recollection of what happened and may carry on as if nothing unusual had happened (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2021).
The symptoms of absence seizure include the following (Harvard Health Publishing, 2018) −
Staring for a few brief seconds
Does not respond to people speaking
Blinking rapidly
Twitching or jerking of an arm or a leg
Having no memory of the episode
Usually no confusion during the recovery period
What is Dissociation?
Mental diseases like dissociation cause people to become detached from the world around them. Dissociative amnesia is one form of dissociative disorder in which a person experiences memory and identity loss. When a person suffers from dissociative identity disorder, they often take on different personas.
Symptoms − Those who suffer from dissociative identity disorder typically experience memory loss and confusion because they are unable to keep track of their several identities. Those closest to them may not notice a marked change in their personality, and the individual experiencing the change is often oblivious to the shift themselves. People with dissociative amnesia may forget their own identities and their life histories, as well as forget particular events that occurred in the past.
Diagnosis − Bloodwork, electroencephalography (EEG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used to rule out any confounding factors in the diagnosis process. In order to determine if a patient meets the diagnostic criteria for dissociation, psychiatrists take careful note of the patient's symptoms, administer psychological tests, and analyse the results.
Causes − Most occurrences of dissociation may be traced back to traumatic experiences. When a kid is subjected to severe sexual, physical, or emotional abuse at a formative age, dissociation can occur.
Risk factors − People who were victims of severe physical, sexual, or emotional abuse as children are at a far higher risk of developing a dissociative illness as a coping technique.
Treatment − In the event of amnesia, psychotherapy and even hypnosis may be employed to help regain lost memories.
Differences: Absence Seizures and Dissociation
The following table highlights the major differences between Absence Seizure and Dissociation −
Characteristics |
Absence seizures |
Dissociation |
|---|---|---|
Definition |
When aberrant electrical activity occurs in both hemispheres of the brain, it is called an absence seizure, a type of generalized onset seizure. |
A person with dissociative identity disorder or amnesia has lost contact with reality. |
Symptoms |
Lip smacking, chewing sounds, and flickering eyelids are all signs of an absence seizure. |
Dissociation manifests itself in forgetfulness or in the unconscious adoption of new identities by the affected individual. |
Diagnosis |
An EEG is used to identify an absent seizure because it reveals aberrant brain activity. |
A psychiatrist can make a diagnosis of dissociation by using diagnostic criteria and conducting psychological testing. |
Causes |
Genetics, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and Dravet syndrome all have a role in triggering absence seizures. |
Dissociation stems from traumatic experiences as a youngster. |
Treatment |
Treatment for absence seizure typically entails the use of anti- convulsant medicines. |
Dissociation disorder is treated with psychotherapy and hypnotherapy. |
Conclusion
Absence seizures are more common in children, especially females, and those with a history of seizures in their family. Dissociative disorders, on the other hand, are more common in people who have suffered from severe childhood maltreatment.
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