Clinical Trial: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Dissociative Seizures

Study Status: Not yet recruiting
Recruit Status: Unknown status
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in Dissociative Seizures: A Randomised Controlled Trial

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 Summary:

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.


Sponsor: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Current Primary Outcome: seizure frequency [ Time Frame: previous month ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • seizure freedom [ Time Frame: 3 months ]
  • Work & Social Adjustment scale (Marks, 1986) [ Time Frame: Pre-treatment, end of treatment and six-months follow-up ]
  • Employment Status [ Time Frame: Pre-treatment, end of treatment and six-months follow-up ]
  • Health Service Use [ Time Frame: Pre-treatment, end of treatment and six-months follow-up ]
  • Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Zigmond & Snaith, 1983) [ Time Frame: Pre-treatment, end of treatment and six-months follow-up ]


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Dates:
Date Received: May 30, 2008
Date Started: March 2001
Date Completion: February 2009
Last Updated: January 21, 2009
Last Verified: January 2009