Treatment for Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Using Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) or Psychoeducation for PNES

NCT07344766 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: WCGIRB 1280734
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 44
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

An outpatient randomized controlled clinical trial conducted at the Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group's PNES Program, involving mental health clinicians certified in PE and trained in administering PsychoEd.

Conditions

Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNESs); Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD

Keywords

Psychotherapy; functional dissociative seizures; nonepileptic seizures; psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Nonepileptic seizure frequency

  frequency of nonepileptic seizures (PNES) per month

  From enrollment until session 12 and at 3, 6 and 12month follow up

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)

  From enrollment to session 12 and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow up

• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL) for DSM 5

  From enrollment until session 12 of treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow up

• Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale

  From enrollment until session 12 of treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow up

• Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM 5 (CAPS)

  From enrollment through session 12 of treatment and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow up

Study Arms (2)

Prolonged exposure

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Behavioral: imaginal and in vivo exposure

Psychoeducational Intervention for PNES

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This psychoeducational treatment was based on a similar intervention reported in 2004

Behavioral: psychoeducation for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures

Interventions

imaginal and in vivo exposure BEHAVIORAL

Prolonged exposure is a form of cognitive behavioral treatment that uses exposure to avoided memories and reminders

Prolonged exposure

psychoeducation for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures BEHAVIORAL

A combination of psychoeducation about PNES and skills for emotional regulation and relaxation.

Also known as: PsychoEd for PNES

Psychoeducational Intervention for PNES

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• English-speaking adults (18 years and older) Confirmed diagnosis of PNES through video-EEG monitoring Confirmed diagnosis of current PTSD At least one psychogenic non-epileptic seizure in the month prior to beginning treatment.

You may not qualify if:

• Concurrent mixed epilepsy and PNES or video EEG findings that cannot clearly distinguish epilepsy and PNES Active suicidality Active psychotic symptoms Active substance or alcohol use or dependence that could interfere with participation in therapy Application for disability

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group: lead

Study Sites (1)

Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group

New York, New York, 10017, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Myers L, Vaidya-Mathur U, Lancman M. Prolonged exposure therapy for the treatment of patients diagnosed with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Epilepsy Behav. 2017 Jan;66:86-92. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.10.019. Epub 2016 Dec 27.

  PMID: 28038392 BACKGROUND

• Zaroff CM, Myers L, Barr WB, Luciano D, Devinsky O. Group psychoeducation as treatment for psychological nonepileptic seizures. Epilepsy Behav. 2004 Aug;5(4):587-92. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2004.03.005.

  PMID: 15256198 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures; Combat Disorders; Seizures

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Lorna Myers, Ph.D.

  NEREG

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Director, PNES Program

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 7, 2026
• First Posted: January 15, 2026
• Study Start: November 16, 2020
• Primary Completion: May 12, 2025
• Study Completion: May 30, 2025
• Last Updated: January 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF
• Time Frame: upon completion of final data analysis until indefinitely.
• Access Criteria: Qualified researchers will have access to de-identified IPD, protocol, informed consent) via online data repository

Locations

US (1)