In the context of diagnosing psychological disorders, why might a seizure be confused with a person being under the influence of drugs or alcohol?

• A. Seizures and intoxication are always easy to distinguish based on appearance alone.
• B. Seizures always result in loss of consciousness, which is identical to the effects of all drugs and alcohol.
• C. Both conditions can cause sudden changes in behavior, confusion, and impaired motor control.
• D. Drug and alcohol intoxication never cause physical symptoms similar to seizures.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key symptoms of seizures, which often include sudden changes in behavior, confusion, impaired motor control, and sometimes loss of consciousness.
2. Step 2: Recognize that drug and alcohol intoxication can also produce similar symptoms such as confusion, impaired motor coordination, and altered behavior, which can overlap with seizure presentations.
3. Step 3: Analyze why these overlapping symptoms might lead to confusion in diagnosis, especially when relying on appearance alone without medical testing or history.
4. Step 4: Note that not all seizures result in loss of consciousness, and not all intoxications produce identical physical symptoms, making it important to consider the full clinical context.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the similarity in sudden behavioral and motor changes between seizures and intoxication is why they can be mistaken for one another during initial assessments.