Dissociative Seizures
Conditions
Keywords
non epileptic seizures, cognitive behavioural therapy, dissociative disorders, Seizure disorders, randomised controlled trial
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether adults with disoociative (psychogenic non-epileptic) seizures receiving cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) show a greater reduction in seizures and health service use and greater improvement in employment status and overall psychosocial functioning than patients who receive standard care.
Detailed description
Preliminary results from a pilot study demonstrated that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is associated with a significant benefit for patients with dissociative seizures. The current study aims to extend these findings by conducting a randomised controlled trial comparing CBT with standard outpatient medical care. Standard outpatient care has been chosen as the comparison treatment as it most closely resembles what is currently offered to this group of patients by the National Health Service. The primary outcome measure will be seizure frequency. Secondary outcome measures will be work and social adjustment and health service use. Our hypothesis is that CBT will be superior to standard outpatient care for patients with dissociative seizures as determined by the above measures.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALCBT
CBT, up to 12 sessions.
BEHAVIORALStandard Care
Routine review by neuropsychiatrist in outpatient clinic
Sponsors
Special Trustees for St Thomas' and Guy's Hospitals
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
16 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* clinical diagnosis of dissociative seizures * diagnosis confirmed by video EEG telemetry where practicable * aged 16 - 70
Exclusion criteria
* co existent diagnosis (past or present) of epilepsy * seizure frequency of less than 2 seizures per month * current alcohol or drug abuse * benzodiazepine use exceeding the equivalent of 10mg diazepam per day.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| seizure frequency | previous month |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| seizure freedom | 3 months |
| Work & Social Adjustment scale (Marks, 1986) | Pre-treatment, end of treatment and six-months follow-up |
| Employment Status | Pre-treatment, end of treatment and six-months follow-up |
| Health Service Use | Pre-treatment, end of treatment and six-months follow-up |
| Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Zigmond & Snaith, 1983) | Pre-treatment, end of treatment and six-months follow-up |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed