People with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) who undertake psychotherapy and stick with it are more likely to see improvements, including fewer seizures, than patients who do not have psychotherapy, research shows.

“Patients who complete psychotherapy have fewer psychogenic seizures, better quality of life, and fewer visits to the ED,” said study author Dr Benjamin Tolchin, from Yale University’s School of Medicine.

“Neurologists and behavioural health providers need to collaborate to help patients with PNES to initiate and complete psychotherapy.”

PNES are paroxysmal events involving involuntary movements or alterations of consciousness caused by psychological factors.