TY - JOUR
T1 - Treatment Provided in Children and Adolescents with Functional Seizures-A Danish Nationwide Cohort
AU - Sørensen, Nana Brandborg
AU - Nielsen, René Ernst
AU - Christensen, Ann-Eva
AU - Kjeldsen, Mikkel Kristian
AU - Rask, Charlotte Ulrikka
AU - Christensen, Jakob
AU - Hansen, Anne Sofie
PY - 2023/7/14
Y1 - 2023/7/14
N2 - BACKGROUND: Functional seizures (FS) are episodes of paroxysmal involuntary movements and altered consciousness without the typical changes in the electroencephalography as with epilepsy. A multidisciplinary approach is the golden standard in the treatment of FS. This study examined the cross-sectoral collaboration and treatment modalities provided to children and adolescents after a diagnosis of FS.METHOD: A Danish nationwide cohort, consisting of 334 children and adolescents, aged 5-17 years, with a validated diagnosis of FS during the period 2004-2014 was studied. Medical record data were collected from diagnosing hospital departments. Management and treatment modalities from the time of diagnosis up to three months after diagnosis were explored.RESULTS: The most used treatment modalities were psychoeducation (n = 289, 86.5%) and follow-up in outpatient care (n = 192, 70.6%). A cross-sectoral collaboration was initiated for a third of cases (n = 98, 29.3%). The most commonly provided treatment combination consisted of psychoeducation, follow-up in outpatient care and psychotherapy; however, only a few patients received this specific combination (n = 14, 4.2%).CONCLUSIONS: The treatment applied was individualized and consisted of varying use of treatment modalities. Initiatives to curate clinical guidelines and implement a multidisciplinary treatment approach should be further explored to improve treatment for this young group of patients.
AB - BACKGROUND: Functional seizures (FS) are episodes of paroxysmal involuntary movements and altered consciousness without the typical changes in the electroencephalography as with epilepsy. A multidisciplinary approach is the golden standard in the treatment of FS. This study examined the cross-sectoral collaboration and treatment modalities provided to children and adolescents after a diagnosis of FS.METHOD: A Danish nationwide cohort, consisting of 334 children and adolescents, aged 5-17 years, with a validated diagnosis of FS during the period 2004-2014 was studied. Medical record data were collected from diagnosing hospital departments. Management and treatment modalities from the time of diagnosis up to three months after diagnosis were explored.RESULTS: The most used treatment modalities were psychoeducation (n = 289, 86.5%) and follow-up in outpatient care (n = 192, 70.6%). A cross-sectoral collaboration was initiated for a third of cases (n = 98, 29.3%). The most commonly provided treatment combination consisted of psychoeducation, follow-up in outpatient care and psychotherapy; however, only a few patients received this specific combination (n = 14, 4.2%).CONCLUSIONS: The treatment applied was individualized and consisted of varying use of treatment modalities. Initiatives to curate clinical guidelines and implement a multidisciplinary treatment approach should be further explored to improve treatment for this young group of patients.
KW - Danish nationwide cohort
KW - functional seizures
KW - management
KW - paediatric
KW - psychogenic nonepileptic seizures
KW - treatment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85169623805&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/children10071218
DO - 10.3390/children10071218
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 37508715
SN - 2227-9067
VL - 10
JO - Children
JF - Children
IS - 7
M1 - 1218
ER -