What is the Difference Epilepsy and Hysteria

Epilepsy and hysteria are two medical conditions that can affect the brain and result in abnormal behaviors or symptoms. However, epilepsy can occur in people of all ages, whereas hysteria has historically been considered a mental disorder primarily attributed to women. Moreover, they are distinct conditions with different underlying causes and characteristics.

The key difference between epilepsy and hysteria is their nature. Hysteria refers to a wide range of emotional and physical symptoms in women, which were once thought to be linked to the uterus, while epilepsy refers to the occurrence of seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Epilepsy  
3. What is Hysteria
4. Similarities – Epilepsy and Hysteria
5. Epilepsy vs Hysteria in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Epilepsy vs Hysteria
7. FAQ: Epilepsy and Hysteria

What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a neurological condition. It has peculiar symptoms such as staring, jerking movements of the arms and legs, loss of bowel or bladder control, stiffening of the body, breathing problems or breathing stops, loss of consciousness, falling suddenly for no apparent reasons, and periods of rapid eye blinking. Moreover, epilepsy can be caused by many reasons, such as brain trauma, brain tumors, alcohol or drug abuse, neurological conditions, infections, genetic factors, and certain medications.

Epilepsy can be diagnosed through physical examinations, electroencephalogram (EEG), MRIs, CT scans, and lumbar punctures. Furthermore, treatment options for epilepsy may include taking anti-seizure medications, consuming a ketogenic diet, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and surgery.

What is Hysteria?

Hysteria is a psychological condition having characteristics such as hallucinations, nervousness, and partial paralysis. It was historically thought to affect only women. The typical symptoms of this condition may include blindness, hearing loss, seizure, amnesia, uncontrolled bodily movements or complete loss of movement, heart palpitations, emotional outbursts, paralysis, fainting, chronic pain, loss of sensation, hallucinations, and over-exaggerated histrionic behavior. Moreover, hysteria is caused by psychological issues and stress. It is also attributed to starvation or displacement of the uterus.

Hysteria can be diagnosed through psychological evaluation. Furthermore, treatment options for hysteria may include the usage of medical vibrators and psychotherapy.

Similarities Between Epilepsy and Hysteria

1. Epilepsy and hysteria are two medical conditions that can affect the brain.
2. Both conditions can result in abnormal behaviors or symptoms.
3. Both conditions can be diagnosed by physical and mental evaluations.
4. They are mainly treated through therapies.

Difference Between Epilepsy and Hysteria

Definition

1. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by the occurrence of seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
2. Hysteria is a psychological disorder that involves a wide range of emotional and physical symptoms in women, which were historically thought to be linked to the uterus.

Commonness

1. Epilepsy is a more common condition.
2. Hysteria is a less common condition.

Onset of Episodes

1. Epilepsy has a shorter onset of episodes.
2. Hysteria has a longer onset of episodes.

Causes

1. Epilepsy can be caused by many reasons, such as brain trauma, brain tumor, alcohol or drug abuse, neurological conditions, infections, genetic factors, and certain medications.
2. Hysteria can be caused by psychological issues and stress.

Affected Population

1. People of all ages are affected by epilepsy.
2. Women are mainly affected by hysteria.

Symptoms

1. The symptoms of epilepsy are jerking movements of the arms and legs, stiffening of the body, loss of consciousness, breathing problems, loss of bowel or bladder control, falling suddenly for no apparent reasons, and periods of rapid eye blinking and staring.
2. The symptoms of hysteria are hallucinations, nervousness, and partial paralysis.

Diagnosis

1. Epilepsy can be diagnosed by physical examination, electroencephalogram (EEG), MRI, CT scan, and lumbar puncture.
2. Hysteria can be diagnosed through psychological evaluation.

Treatment

1. The treatment options for epilepsy may include taking anti-seizure medications, consuming a ketogenic diet, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), and surgery.
2. The treatment options for hysteria may include the usage of medical vibrators and psychotherapy.

The following table summarizes the difference between epilepsy and hysteria.

Summary – Epilepsy vs Hysteria

Once, epilepsy and hysteria were grouped together. However, epilepsy and hysteria are very different and are now considered separate medical conditions. Epilepsy is a more common neurological disorder, while hysteria is a less common psychological disorder. Furthermore, epilepsy involves the occurrence of seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain, while hysteria involves a wide range of emotional and physical symptoms in women, which were historically thought to be linked to the uterus. This summarizes the difference between epilepsy and hysteria.

FAQ: Epilepsy and Hysteria

1. What is the cause of epilepsy?

There are many possible causes of epilepsy. Some include an imbalance of nerve-signaling neurotransmitters in the brain, tumors, strokes, and brain damage from illness or injury.

2. What are the 5 symptoms of epilepsy?

The main symptoms of epilepsy may include repetitive lip smacking, hand movements or jerking movements, episodic confusion, memory loss, being ‘off’ behaviorally, frequent, unexplained falls, and convulsions.

3. Can you overcome epilepsy?

Seizures are uncontrolled bursts of electrical activities that change sensations, behaviors, awareness, and muscle movements. Although epilepsy can’t be cured, there are many treatment options. Up to 70% of people with epilepsy can manage the disease with anti-seizure medications and respective surgeries.

4. What are hysteria symptoms?

Hysteria symptoms include a wide range of physical and mental issues such as blindness, hearing loss, seizures, amnesia, uncontrolled bodily movements or complete loss of movement, heart palpitations, emotional outbursts, paralysis, fainting, chronic pain, loss of sensation, hallucinations, and histrionic behavior.

5. How to treat someone with hysteria?

The first steps consist of symptomatic treatment, including catharsis, counter-suggestion, hypnosis, narco-analysis, relaxation, focused psychoanalytical psychotherapy, and drug therapy. The second step includes an approach to modify the psychic structure of the patient by supportive psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.

Reference:

1. “Epilepsy: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. Kendra Cherry, MSEd. “Hysteria: Not What You Think It Is-or Was.” Verywell Mind.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Epilepsy” By The Clear Communication People (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Female patient with sleep hysteria Wellcome L0040300” By Welcome Image Gallery (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia