Our epilepsy and seizures community of patients, family, friends and doctors have been on the move this spring!
Epilepsy on the Move: Our epilepsy and seizure community of patients, family, friends and doctors have been on the move this spring and summer! Our doctors published a very important paper in the prestigious journal (Neurology) and several other publications. They have also been out in the community collaborating closely with Epilepsy Alliance America and through that collaboration, donating a total of 26 Lorna Myers PNES scholarships for individuals living with PNES!
March 24: Dr. Lorna Myers presented on psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) at Epilepsy Alliance America Member Organization Meeting in New Brunswick, NJ
June 24: Epilepsy Alliance America held a private online ceremony for the 26 Lorna Myers PNES Scholarship recipients. During this moving meeting, the wonderful recipients were invited to speak about their journey with PNES and were personally congratulated for their achievements.
August 6-8: Nonepileptic Seizures—An Underserved Group: Bridging Science and Practice was accepted by Division 22 - Rehabilitation Psychology for presentation at APA 2026 in Washington, DC. Drs. Lorna Myers, Becky Tilahun, Julia Doss, Marcela Bonafina, and graduate student, Silvia Hammer, attended this conference and presented on this important topic, discussing evidence-based treatment approaches (CBT for PNES and PsychoEd for PNES), what is up with the many names of PNES?, the impact of culture in treatment of PNES and supervision, and the experience of a research coordinator working on a PNES study during the Covid-19 pandemic.
September 10, 2026: Dr. Myers spoke at the ESNJ | Jacksonian Epilepsy Summit. The Jacksonian Epilepsy Summit brings together clinical epilepsy professionals to share best practices, discuss current research and treatment approaches, learn more about ESNJ programs, and connect with colleagues and industry partners in a relaxed setting. This event is free to attend for medical professionals in the epilepsy space.
September 25, 2026: ReAttach Global conference on Functional Neurological Disorders. The Global ReAttach Summit brought together researchers, clinicians, practitioners and people with lived experience to exchange knowledge, challenge established thinking and explore new possibilities in personalized support. Registration is free for patients and loved ones: Global ReAttach Summit 2026 | Functional Neurological Disorders
Publications
Our doctors from Mid-Atlantic Epilepsy and Sleep Center published an important report in Neurology
Summary: The authors reviewed reports for medications approved since 2010, including:
• Lacosamide (LCM, 2010)
• Eslicarbazepine (ESL, 2013)
• Perampanel (PER, 2014)
• Brivaracetam (BRV, 2016)
• Cannabidiol (CBD, 2018)
• Cenobamate (CNB, 2020)
• Fenfluramine (FFA, 2020)
They compared these to known drugs with higher abuse potential, such as pregabalin (PGB), gabapentin (GBP), and alprazolam.
Key findings: Newer antiseizure medications generally showed a favorable safety profile regarding abuse and dependence risk when used as prescribed for epilepsy. This analysis provides reassuring real-world data for patients and families managing epilepsy with modern treatments. Talk to your epilepsy care team if you have questions about your specific medication.
Citation: Abuse and Dependence of New Antiseizure Medications: Analysis of FDA Adverse Event Reporting System, Amanda W Pong, Kevin J Xu, Dylan NQ Huynh, Barry E Gidal, Robert J. McCarter, Pavel Klein (2026), Neurology.
Dr. Lorna Myers, Ruifan Zeng, and Marcelo Lancman and Urmi Vaidya published a report on a randomized controlled trial comparing two types of treatments for adults with PNES + PTSD. Fifteen patients were assigned to prolonged exposure and 15 were assigned to PsychoEd for PNES. Results were promising with both treatments proving themselves helpful in different ways.
Myers L, Vaidya-Mathur U, Zeng R, Hammer S & Lancman M. A pilot randomized controlled trial of prolonged exposure therapy vs. psychoeducation for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder. Epilepsy & Behavior, 2026; 180
Dr. Lorna Myers, of the Northeast Regional Epilepsy Group published a therapist guide and a patient workbook based on a new treatment for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and post-traumatic stress disorder. The treatment is called PsychoEd for PNES and was evaluated from 2020-2025 as part of a randomized controlled trial. It is promising and attractive because it provides important patient education complete with a toolbox for relaxation, emotional regulation, etc. and does not require certification.
Myers L (2026) PsychoEd for PNES Patient Workbook: Psychoeducational Psychotherapy for Adults Diagnosed with Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES) and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ISBN-13: 979-8996474301, pp 122.
Myers L (2026) PsychoEd for PNES Therapist Guide: Psychoeducational Psychotherapy for Adults Diagnosed with Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES) and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ISBN-13: 979-8996474318, pp 147.
Dr. Myers and colleagues published a Letter to the Editor bringing up certain concerns about the proposed name change for PNES to functional/dissociative seizures (F/DS). Primarily, they expressed concerns about blurring the psychological components in PNES which could make it even more difficult for patients to access the appropriate treatment.
Myers, L, Scamvougeras A, Kramska L, Doss J. A call for reflection on unintended consequences: Should 'functional/dissociative seizures' replace 'psychogenic nonepileptic seizures'?" Seizure - European Journal of Epilepsy. 2026
