The Effect of Therapy Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Quality of Life in Patients with PNES

Abstract

Objective: In the search for effective therapeutically tools for Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES), in the present study we analyzed the effect of two different psychotherapeutic approaches, Brief Psychodynamic Therapy (BPT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on the frequency of PNES as well as on quality of life in these patients. Methods: 23 patients displaying PNES were randomly assigned to a group receiving BPT for 6 months, a group receiving CBT for 6 months and a control group no receiving psychotherapy. Presence of PNES was confirmed by electroencephalography (EEG). To assess self-perception quality of life, the QOLIE-31 questionnaire was applied before and every three months including a six months’ follow-up after treatment ended. Results: PNES frequency decreased significantly after the first three months of both therapies compared to control group. No differences were observed when the two therapies were compared. The significant decrease of PNES frequency remains until six months after the end of psychotherapy. Concerning self-perceived quality of life, QOLIE-31 results indicate a significant improvement since the first three months. At the beginning all the patients report a poor quality of life. After three months of psychotherapy most of them improve to a normal quality of life. After 6 months of therapy patients showed values reflecting an excellent quality of life, remaining at these levels six months after therapies ended. Conclusion: The present results support the notion that both psychotherapeutic approaches are reliably procedures for decrease PNES frequency and improve quality of life in these patients.