Post-Traumatic Psychogenic Seizure and Epilepsy Project
Abstract
Over 80,000 Veterans who utilize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system have been identified as having epilepsy. Data from the VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence suggest a substantial proportion of those Veterans may have psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), which are seizure-like fits that are psychologically driven but are not epileptic seizures. Among Veterans who were hospitalized for evaluation of intractable seizures with video electroencephalogram monitoring in 2013, 18% were found to have PNES and 25% had the diagnosis of epilepsy confirmed. Unfortunately, there is no study describing what happens to Veterans once they are diagnosed with PNES. The few studies examining why Veterans suffer from PNES were conducted at only one location and may not represent Veterans throughout the country. This study will examine the frequency, risk factors, and healthcare outcomes of post-9/11 Veterans with PNES who received VA care from 2004-2015. Major risk factors for developing PNES include mental, physical, and social distress. A history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with PNES, but the relationship between treatment of PTSD and the development of PNES has not been well studied. Factors associated with PNES such as female gender, PTSD, depression, anxiety, sexual assault, chronic pain, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) will be studied. We will evaluate whether prior mental health treatment (including medication and/or talk therapy) for PTSD, mood, or anxiety decrease the risk of developing PNES as well as decrease the severity of PNES (number of monthly psychogenic seizures) and increase the likelihood of recovery (seizure-free for 6 months). We will also determine if patients with post-traumatic PNES have different outcomes than patients with PNES not related to TBI.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 29, 2018
- Source ID
- W81XWH1710649
Entities
People
- Hamada Altalib
Organizations
- United States Army
- VA Connecticut Research and Education Foundation