Cognitive Analytic Therapy for Functional/Dissociative Seizures in an Adolescent: Case Report and Mixed-Methods...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology

Background:

• Functional/dissociative seizures (FDSs) present similarly to epileptic seizures or syncope in adolescents.
• This study investigated the efficacy of Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) for FDSs.

Observation:

• An 8-session CAT intervention was administered to a 17-year-old male diagnosed with non-epileptic attack disorder.
• Target problems and procedures were assessed throughout therapy and at follow-up.
• Standardized psychological measures (DES-2, RCADS, YP-CORE) and a Change Interview were used.

Findings:

• CAT led to increased recognition and revision of target problems, resulting in four specific changes, including the cessation of functional seizures.
• Significant pre-post improvements in psychological well-being were observed.
• These psychological benefits were not maintained at the 5-week follow-up.

Implications:

• Cognitive Analytic Therapy shows promise as a treatment for adolescents with functional neurological disorder (FND).
• Further research is necessary to establish the long-term effectiveness and refine CAT protocols for this population.