Epilepsy Behav. 2026 Jun 16;183:111164. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.111164. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Functional/dissociative seizures (FDS) are frequently treated with one-to-one therapeutic interventions. However, data describing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following group-based therapy remain limited. This study evaluated changes in PROMs among a large cohort of individuals receiving virtual, group and individual therapy within a multidisciplinary FDS treatment program.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 823 individuals referred to a specialty FDS program between April 2020 and January 2025. Baseline PROMs were completed by 436 patients and assessed quality of life (QoL), PTSD, anxiety, depression, and dissociative experiences. Follow up PROMs were available for 165 individuals who participated in one of three treatment pathways: 6-Week psychoeducational group therapy only, 6-Week and 12-Week psychodynamic group therapies combined, or individualized therapy. Mixed-effects linear regression examined changes in PROMs between baseline and follow-up, adjusting for relevant characteristics.
RESULTS: Across all cohorts, significant improvements were observed in depression (PHQ-9: -1.32, p < 0.01), quality of life (QOLIE-10P: -2.20, p < 0.01), and PTSD symptoms (SPRINT: -2.14, p < 0.01). Within-cohort analyses showed significant reductions in PHQ-9 (-2.16, p < 0.01) and SPRINT (-3.14, p < 0.01) for the 6-Week and 12-Week group therapies combined and improved QOLIE-10P (-3.37, p < 0.01) for the 6-Week group only. No significant changes were observed in anxiety or dissociation, and between-cohort differences were not statistically significant.
DISCUSSION: Analyses identified significant improvements in PROMs across treatment cohorts suggesting that group-based and individual interventions can enhance outcomes for individuals with FDS, though absence of a control group limits causal interpretation. This finding is important given limited treatment availability and opportunity for group therapy to increase FDS access.
PMID:42302323 | DOI:10.1016/j.yebeh.2026.111164
