title: Overlap between dissociation and other psychological characteristics in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.
abstract: Patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) often report symptoms of dissociation. However, it is unclear how these symptoms relate to psychotherapeutic treatment, for example, with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Here, we investigated the degree of overlap between symptoms of dissociation and other psychiatric features that are more traditional targets for CBT. We used a hierarchical linear regression to measure the variance associated with dissociative symptoms (as assessed by the Dissociative Experiences Scale - DES) among 46 individuals with PNESs. The regression predictor variables are indices of participants' self-rated mood, self-efficacy, quality of life, locus of control, and life outlook (e.g., optimism). Results revealed that 70.2% of the variance associated with DES score was explained by psychological distress and locus of control. The other factors examined did not make a significant contribution to the regression model. These results suggest that traditional CBT targets - mood symptoms, mood distress, and dysfunctional beliefs about locus of control - overlap substantially with self-reported dissociative symptoms.
authors.affiliation: VA Maryland Healthcare System, Baltimore VA Medical Center, 10 N. Greene St., MH/116, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: Matthew.cohen@jhmi.edu.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: VA Maryland Healthcare System, Baltimore VA Medical Center, 10 N. Greene St., MH/116, Baltimore, MD, USA; University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 110 S. Paca St., Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: smtesta@lifebridgehealth.org.
authors.forename: S Marc
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 110 S. Paca St., Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: jprit001@umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, 660 W. Redwood St., Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: jzhu@epi.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Jingkun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 110 S. Paca St., Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: JHopp@som.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hopp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D057566:Self Report
keywords: Dissociation; Dissociative seizures; Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures