Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Dissociative Seizures

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Dissociative Seizures
• Interventions: Behavioral: Standard Care; Behavioral: CBT

• Registration Number: NCT00688727
• Lead Sponsor: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2001-03
• Study First Submitted: 2008-05-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-06-02
• Study First Posted: 2008-06-03
• Status Verified: 2009-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2009-01-21
• Last Update Posted: 2009-01-22
• Primary Completion: 2009-02
• Study Completion: 2009-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 70

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.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
2	Standard Care	Standard Care
1	CBT	Cognitive behavioural Therapy

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
seizure frequency	previous month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Employment Status	Pre-treatment, end of treatment and six-months follow-up
seizure freedom	3 months
Health Service Use	Pre-treatment, end of treatment and six-months follow-up
Work & Social Adjustment scale (Marks, 1986)	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

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Maudsley Hospital; 🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom