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Treatment Trial for Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures

The investigators propose that patients who receive targeted pharmacotherapy (sertraline) or focused psychotherapy (cognitive behavioral therapy-informed psychotherapy (CBT-ip) for NES) or combined treatment (CBT-ip + sertraline) will report fewer nonepileptic seizures (NES) compared to patients who receive community care / treatment as usual (TAU). The purpose of this study is to provide pilot testing and data to inform the future multicenter randomized controlled trial based on the hypothesis.

Stanford is currently accepting patients for this trial.

Stanford Investigator(s):

Intervention(s):

  • other: Standard Care
  • drug: Sertraline
  • behavioral: CBT-ip
  • other: Combined (sertraline + CBT-ip)

Eligibility


Inclusion Criteria:

   - Video electroencephalogram (EEG) confirmed diagnosis of NES

   - Have at least one nonepileptic seizure per month

   - Able to complete self report symptom scales

   - Not receiving optimized sertraline

Exclusion Criteria:

   - Equivocal EEG findings

   - using monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), pimozide, or sumatriptan

   - allergy/sensitivity to sertraline

   - current alcohol/drug dependence

   - serious medical illness requiring current hospitalization

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years - 95 Years

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Now accepting new patients

Contact Information

Stanford University
School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Jessica Hawkins
6507238323
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