Group psychoeducation as treatment for psychological nonepileptic seizures

• Published in: Epilepsy & behavior Vol. 5; no. 4; pp. 587 - 592
• Main Authors: M. Zaroff, Charles, Myers, Lorna, B. Barr, William, Luciano, Daniel, Devinsky, Orrin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2004
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety; Coping skills; Depression; Electroencephalography - methods; Female; Group psychotherapy; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Nonepileptic seizures; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Psychoeducation; Psychological nonepileptic seizures; Psychophysiologic Disorders - complications; Psychophysiologic Disorders - therapy; Psychotherapy; Psychotherapy, Group; Quality of life; Retrospective Studies; Seizures - therapy; Somatoform Disorders - therapy; Status Epilepticus - complications; Status Epilepticus - therapy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Trauma; Treatment Outcome; Psychological nonepileptic seizures; Depression; Nonepileptic seizures; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Anxiety; Psychoeducation; Group psychotherapy; Trauma; Coping skills; Quality of life
• ISSN: 1525-5050; 1525-5069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2004.03.005

There is no consensus for the type(s) of treatment(s) that may be effective or ineffective for psychological nonepileptic seizures (PNES). We provided an open-ended group psychotherapy program to 10 patients with PNES, including a disorder-specific psychoeducation treatment component in the first 10 weeks. Seizure frequency and questionnaire responses were examined pre- and posttreatment in all 7 of 10 individuals who completed the majority of the psychoeducational sessions. Four individuals experienced no change in seizure frequency; in three of these this was due to a cessation of events at treatment initiation. Two individuals experienced a decline; and one, an increase, in seizure frequency. Significant decreases were reported in posttraumatic ( P=0.003) and dissociative ( P=0.04) symptoms and emotionally based coping mechanisms ( P=0.03). There was also a trend toward improved quality of life ( P=0.07). Experience/expression of anger remained stable. Psychoeducation may be an effective method of treating PNES and may improve coping strategies and reduce PNES-associated psychopathology in some patients. Additional controlled studies on larger samples are needed.