Actively Recruiting
Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT): Sense of Control and Symptom Expectations as Targets of a Treatment for PNES
Led by University of Alabama at Birmingham · Updated on 2025-09-03
68
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
270 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
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 medical explanation). 11-18-year-olds diagnosed with PNES will engage in twelve sessions of ReACT. 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 will occur 7 days before treatment, 7 days after 8th treatment session and 7 days after 12th treatment session. Participants will also complete long term follow-up visits via HIPAA-compliant Zoom at 6 months and 12 months after the 12th treatment session where participants will complete questionnaires. PNES frequency will be measured from 30 days before to 12 months after treatment.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT): Sense of Control and Symptom Expectations as Targets of a Treatment for PNES
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- 9-18 years old
- Diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures by a medical doctor using video-EEG
- Family member (parent if a minor) willing to participate and chosen by the subject with PNES
You will not qualify if you...
- Comorbid Epilepsy
- Fewer than 4 PNES episodes per month
- Other paroxysmal nonepileptic events (e.g. related to hypoxic-ischemic phenomena, sleep disorders, or migraine-associated disorders)
- Participation in other therapy
- Severe intellectual disability
- Severe mental illness (delusions or hallucinations)
- Blood pressure over 130/80 mmHg for adolescents 13 years or older
- Blood pressure at or above the 95th percentile based on sex and age for children under 13 years
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Sparks Center Office of Psychiatric Research
Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35294
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Aaron Fobian, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
5
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