The approach to patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures in epilepsy surgery centers regarding diagnosis, treatment, and education

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Valente, Kette D. ; De Paola, Luciano ; Palmini, Andre ; Faveret, Eduardo ; de Araujo-Filho, Gerardo Maria ; van der Linden, Helio ; Bianchin, Marino M. ; Walz, Roger ; Alessi, Ruda ; Velasco, Tonicarlo ; Teixeira, Wagner A. ; LaFrance, Jr., W. Curt

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Epilepsy & Behavior; v. 68, p. 78-83, MAR 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 6

Abstract

Previous studies, using surveys, provided an understanding about how health-care providers address patients with PNES. To date, there is limited information on the management of patients with PNES by tertiary referral centers for epilepsy. In this study, we surveyed 11 Brazilian epilepsy center directors about diagnosis, treatment, education and research on PNES. Respondents reported that patients with PNES represented 10-20% of all adult patients recorded by video-EEG (VEEG). All respondents recognized VEEG as the method to confirm the diagnosis, and 81.8% used this approach for confirmation. Most centers had a standard protocol for diagnosis. None of the centers had a particular protocol to treat PNES, but 90.9% had a uniform treatment approach including therapy and educational measures. Psychotherapy was not easily obtained in nine centers (81.8%). Seven (63.3%) centers reported ongoing research projects with PNES. Five centers referred to an educational PNES program discussing diagnosis, but only one reported an educational program for treatment. This study showed a commitment to PNES diagnosis; however, some gaps remain regarding treatment and training, namely implementing a psychotherapy approach for patients and providing educational curricula for clinicians. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/52110-3 - Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy: evaluation of attentional and executive functions, personality traits and social adaptation
• Grantee: Sylvie Carolina Paes Moschetta
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 05/56464-9 - Neuroscience Imaging Center at University of São Paulo Medical School
• Grantee: Giovanni Guido Cerri
• Support Opportunities: Inter-institutional Cooperation in Support of Brain Research (CINAPCE) - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/11361-4 - Association study of polymorphisms in serotoninergic pathway and temporal lobe epilepsy caused by hippocampal sclerosis
• Grantee: Kette Dualibi Ramos Valente
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/09025-3 - Executive and memory functions of patients with mesial temporal sclerosis: association between neuropsychological evaluation and new neuroimage techniques
• Grantee: Geraldo Busatto Filho
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants