Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Senf-Beckenbach, Philine
• Hoheisel, Matthias
• Devine, Janine
• Frank, Arnina
• Obermann, Laura
• Rose, Matthias
• Hinkelmann, Kim

Titel

Evaluation of a new body-focused group therapy versus a guided self-help group program for adults with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES): a pilot randomized controlled feasibility study

Ist Teil von

• Journal of neurology, 2022-01, Vol.269 (1), p.427-436

Ort / Verlag

Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Erscheinungsjahr

2022

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Objective Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), a common phenomenon in neurological settings, are regarded as a paroxysmal type of functional neurological disorder (FND). In a substantial proportion, PNES are disabling with poor long-term outcomes and high economic costs. Despite the clinical and financial consequences of PNES, there is still a lack of controlled clinical trials on the treatment of this challenging disorder. The study aims to evaluate the feasibility and collect first evidence of the efficacy of a group based-intervention in PNES-patients. Methods A pilot randomized controlled feasibility study with a parallel-group design was performed in adult outpatients with PNES to evaluate a new body-focused group therapy (CORDIS) versus guided self-help groups. Self-assessment of dissociation (Dissociation Experience Scale—DES-20) and seizure severity (Liverpool Seizure Severity Scale—LSSS) were assessed two weeks before and two weeks after the treatment intervention and also six months after treatment as primary outcome parameters. Results A total of 53 patients were recruited from a specialized outpatient clinic, and out of those, 29 patients completed either the body-focused group therapy program ( n  = 15) or a guided self-help group (SHG) therapy ( n  = 14). When analyzing the ITT sample ( n  = 22 CORDIS group, n  = 20 SHG), both groups showed an effect on seizure severity and level of dissociation. In the per protocol sample ( n  = 13 CORDIS group, n  = 12 SHG), CORDIS was superior to the self-help group for reducing seizure severity 6 months after the treatment. Significance CORDIS is a newly developed body-focused group therapy program for adults with PNES. Further studies should include a multicentric design with a higher number of participants.