Short-term outcome of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures after communication of the diagnosis

Abstract We previously described a communication strategy for the delivery of the diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) that was acceptable and effective at communicating the psychological cause of PNES. This prospective multicenter study describes the short-term seizure and psychos...

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Published inEpilepsy & behavior Vol. 25; no. 4; pp. 676 - 681
Main Authors Mayor, R, Brown, R.J, Cock, H, House, A, Howlett, S, Singhal, S, Smith, P, Reuber, M
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2012
Subjects
Adult
Communication
Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neurology
Non-epileptic attack disorder
Outcome research
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
Quality of life
Quality of Life - psychology
Recurrence
Seizures - diagnosis
Seizures - psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Outcome research
Non-epileptic attack disorder
Prognosis
Diagnosis
Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
Quality of life
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Summary:Abstract We previously described a communication strategy for the delivery of the diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) that was acceptable and effective at communicating the psychological cause of PNES. This prospective multicenter study describes the short-term seizure and psychosocial outcomes after the communication of the diagnosis and with no additional treatment. Participants completed self-report measures at baseline, two and six months after the diagnosis (seizure frequency, HRQoL, health care utilization, activity levels, symptom attributions and levels of functioning). Thirty-six participants completed the self-report questionnaires. A further eight provided seizure frequency data. After six months, the median seizure frequency had dropped from 10 to 7.5 per month (p = 0.9), 7/44 participants (16%) were seizure-free, and an additional 10/44 (23%) showed greater than 50% improvement in seizure frequency. Baseline questionnaire measures demonstrated high levels of impairment, which had not improved at follow-up. The lack of change in self-report measures illustrates the need for further interventions in this patient group.
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ISSN:1525-5050
1525-5069
DOI:10.1016/j.yebeh.2012.09.033