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Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT) R33 Phase

Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT): Sense of Control and Catastrophic Symptom Expectations as Targets of a Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Pediatric Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES) - R33 Phase

Who can join

Ages 11 to 18 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

* 11-18 years old.
* Diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures by a medical doctor using video-EEG.
* Family member (parent/guardian if a minor) willing to participate and that the subject with PNES chooses.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Comorbid Epilepsy
* Less than 4 PNES per month
* Other paroxysmal nonepileptic events (e.g. episodes related to hypoxic-ischemic phenomena, sleep disorders or migraine-associated disorders)
* Participation in other therapy during the study
* Severe intellectual disability
* Severe mental illness (delusions/hallucinations)

Exclusion for CPT:

* Blood pressure \>130/80 mmHg for adolescents greater than or equal to 13 years old
* Either systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 95% based on sex and age for children less than 13 years old

About the study

The purpose of this study is to assess sense of control and catastrophic symptom expectations as targets for Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT- an intervention focused on changing behaviors and thoughts) for treatment of pediatric psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES, episodes resembling epileptic seizures but with no correlated epileptiform activity). 11-18-year-olds diagnosed with PNES will engage in twelve sessions of either ReACT or supportive therapy. Sense of control over actions will be measured by the magic and turbulence task, a well-validated measure of sense of control. Participants will complete the cold pressor test (CPT) in which participants hold their hand in cool water for as long as possible up to 3 minutes. Catastrophic symptom expectations in response to the CPT will be measured by Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children (PCS-C), pain tolerance (time with hand in water) and cortisol response. Target assessments occur 7 days before treatment, 7 days after 12th treatment session, and 2 months after the 12th treatment session. Long term follow-up assessments will occur 6 months and 12 months after the 12th treatment session. PNES frequency will be measured from 30 days before to 12 months after treatment.

What is being tested

• ReACT (behavioral)
• Supportive Therapy (behavioral)

Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham · Participants: 160 · Started: Mar 9, 2024

Contact the study team

• Aaron Fobian, PhD · Phone: 205-934-2241

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06007053

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Seizures

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.