Rage Seizures in Children

Anyone can experience out-of-control rage or "dyscontrol." When a child displays frequent, sudden episodes of such rage accompanied by physical symptoms that resemble epileptic seizures, they may be experiencing "rage seizures."

Definition

• Rage seizures, also known as "episodic dyscontrol syndrome," can occur in children and adolescents, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. A child going through a rage seizure appears to be out of control and physically aggressive, and may even become violent, according to the University of Illinois Medical Center website on episodic dyscontrol syndrome.

Another Name

• Another name for rage seizures is "intermittent explosive disorder," according to the University of Illinois Medical Center website.

Not an Epileptic Seizure

• A rage seizure may resemble an actual epileptic seizure, according to the Epilepsy Foundation, but it is not. Rage seizures are actually what are known as "pseudo seizures" or "psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

Psychiatric Disorder

• Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures are a psychiatric disorder—not a seizure disorder—according to a ScienceDirect article on psychogenic seizures written by Dr. Elaine Wyllie, Dr. Selim R. Benbadis and Dr. Prakash Kotagel of the Cleveland Clinic. Rage seizures and/or panic attacks are often symptoms of PNES, according to the article.

Diagnosis

• According to the ScienceDirect article on psychogenic seizures, diagnosis of PNES-based rage seizures should be made via video-recorded EEG—or electroencephalogram—conducted at a clinic or hospital. Psychological evaluation is also recommended.

Treatment

• According to the University of Illinois Medical Center, treatment for rage seizures includes medications such as anti-psychotics and anti-depressants, combined with psychological intervention and monitoring.