Directors:
Lorna Myers, PhD and Marcelo Lancman, MD
Program description:
Psychological non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are events that resemble epileptic seizures but are provoked by emotional stress rather than abnormal electrical brain activity. Treatment for PNES is a team effort by the epileptologist, clinical psychologist, and psychiatrist (if needed).
NEREG’s clinicians have a unique and specialized diagnostic and treatment approach for this condition. Once the diagnosis has been made by the epileptologist following VEEG and other testing procedures, a referral is made for a psychological interview by one of our two licensed clinical psychologists. During this interview, questions are asked about current and past history, including social, educational, psychological, and medical background. A comprehensive neuropsychological assessment is also completed with a special battery of tests to assess memory, language, attention, and general thinking as well as key emotional factors and personality. Based on these results, a decision is made between the clinician and patient regarding possible treatment options and, if needed, a referral to psychiatry for medication evaluation is made.
Once it is determined that our program is appropriate for the patient, individual and/or group (12 sessions) psychotherapy is started. Treatment targets trauma symptoms, depressive worldviews, anxiety, and problems with anger and stress management. Treatment is supportive, but also teaches the patient skills and techniques to learn to reduce or eliminate the non epileptic events, attain a healthier and adaptive way of functioning, and better stress coping methods. Once the patient completes the therapy program, a monthly (drop-in) support group is available.
Treatment offered in the following locations:
NEW YORK:
Manhattan
White Plains
Middletown
Staten Island
NEW JERSEY:
Hackensack
Research activities:
American Epilepsy Society, Abstract presented 2010
Correlation between psychological non epileptic seizure severity and self reported state/trait anger and anger expression
American Epilepsy Society, Abstract presented 2010
Modification and improvement of an existing group treatment for psychological non-epileptic seizures
American Epilepsy Society, Abstract presented 2010
Nonepileptic Seizures, epileptic seizures, and intrasubtest scatter
Follow us:
On Facebook, visit out Psychological Non Epileptic Seizures page: (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Psychological-Non-Epileptic-Seizures/144184112260986)
Via our blog on psychological non epileptic seizures: (http://blog.nonepilepticseizures.com/)
Other resources:
Non Epileptic Attack Disorder (in the United Kingdom) http://www.neadtrust.co.uk/
Non Epileptic Attacks (also in the United Kingdom) http://www.nonepilepticattacks.info/index.html
Make an appointment:
Services are offered in many of our New York and New Jersey offices. Talk to your epileptologist about obtaining a referral, or call (914) 428-9213.
Email Inquiries: lmyers@epilepsygroup.com
