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AAN 2022 | Improving targeted treatment in patients with PNES

William Curt LaFrance Jr, MD MPH, FAAN, FANPA, DFAPA, Brown University, Providence, RI, discusses a study investigating structural and functional connectivity changes in patients with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). Functional MRI (fMRI) is performed at baseline, and data on the type of symptoms and comorbidities of patients is gathered. The patients then undergo a 12-session neurobehavioral therapy developed for seizures. After treatment, another fMRI is performed to investigate neural network abnormalities and changes throughout treatment. Prof. LaFrance states that this has the potential to help develop more targeted therapies than what already exists. This interview took place at the American Academy of Neurology 2022 Congress in Seattle, WA.

Disclosures

Dr. LaFrance has served on the editorial boards of Epilepsia, Epilepsy & Behavior; Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, and Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences; receives editor’s royalties from the publication of Gates and Rowan’s Nonepileptic Seizures, 3rd ed. (Cambridge University Press, 2010) and 4th ed. (2018); author’s royalties for Taking Control of Your Seizures: Workbook and Therapist Guide (Oxford University Press, 2015); has received research support from the Department of Defense (DoD W81XWH-17-0169), NIH (NINDS 5K23NS45902 [PI]), Providence VAMC, Center for Neurorestoration and Neurorehabilitation, Rhode Island Hospital, the American Epilepsy Society (AES), the Epilepsy Foundation (EF), Brown University and the Siravo Foundation; serves on the Epilepsy Foundation New England Professional Advisory Board, the Board of the Functional Neurological Disorder Society, and on the Council of the American Neuropsychiatric Association; has received honoraria for the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting Annual Course; has served as a clinic development consultant at University of Colorado Denver, Cleveland Clinic, Spectrum Health, Emory University, and Oregon Health Sciences University; and has provided medico-legal expert testimony.