The pathogenesis of psychogenic seizure as a symptom of conversion disorder is not well understood. The observations have suggested that the plasma concentrations of stress hormones such as cortisol increase during such episodes but the findings are contradictory.Eighteen patients admitted to Emergency Unit of university hospital with complex or partial deficit of consciousness were investigated. To rule out any possible physical illness complete physical and neurological examinations and laboratory tests were made. All patients were interviewed by a psychiatrist after they had gained consciousness and scored by 17-item HAMD (Hamilton Depression) and HAMA (Hamilton Anxiety), Glasgow coma scale. Blood samples for serum cortisol were obtained during the seizure and baseline on next day at 08.00 am.. Eight healthy-volunteers were included as control. Serum levels of controls were measured at 08.00 am. Mann-Whitney Spearman's rank correlations and Wilcoxon test were used for statistics.Mean cortisol levels of the patients during the episodes (22.55, SD: 10.29 μgr/dl) were higher then controls (16.39 + 9.53). The mean cortisol levels which could be determined in eight patients did not differ from their basal levels at 08.00 a.m. next day. According to the circadian rhythm of seizure (morning/evening), Glasgow coma scale, HAMD and HAMA scores revealed no correlations with cortisol levels. Cortisol levels and systolic blood pressures during the seizure showed a weak correlation.The results suggest that elevated cortisol level is not a specific finding in pseudoseizure which may be related with nonspecific stress response of HPA in conversion disorder.