Initial Treatment Retention in Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures

This study investigated whether initial adherence to treatment in psychogenic epileptic seizures differed on the basis of mental health treatment modality and which subject characteristics were predictive of adherence. Initial adherence rates were 54% for combined treatment conducted in the same institution (integrated intervention) and 31% for psychotherapy and psychiatric management offered in different settings (divided intervention). Cognitive complaints and current exposure to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were more common among nonadherent patients, and being married (or having a live-in partner) was more common among adherent patients. A predictive model using the mentioned variables (intervention type, marital status, cognitive complaints, and concurrent use of AEDs) showed that this set of variables was predictive of adherence. Marital status and cognitive complaints were the significant contributors to prediction of adherence in the model. (The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences 2013; 25:63-67)