title: Group therapy for patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: a pilot study.
abstract: Great advances have been made in the diagnosis of people with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) since the advent of video/EEG monitoring. However, treatment options for this population have lagged significantly. This pilot study was undertaken to evaluate whether group therapy done with a psychodynamic focus would offer a useful intervention. Twelve patients entered the study and seven completed at least 75% of the 32 weekly sessions. The Beck Depression Inventory and the Global Severity Index of the Symptom Checklist-90 showed improvement as well as an overall decrease in PNES frequency. The data suggest that group therapy focusing on interpersonal issues may benefit patients with PNES.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. jbarry@stanford.edu
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wittenberg
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Bullock
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Michaels
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Classen
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008609:Mental Status Schedule; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires