Abstract
Objectives To evaluate Re-PROGRAM, a novel, brief intervention for individuals with functional seizures in an outpatient setting.
Methods 30 patients with functional seizures participated in a novel intervention program between Aug 2020-Jan 2022 at the Alfred Hospital Functional Seizures Clinic. The evidence-based intervention consisted of five 1-hr consecutive weekly appointments via Telehealth, where psychologists engaged patients in seizure-management skills, lifestyle modification, and behavioural activation strategies. Following the intervention, patient feedback was collected using a 24-item self-report pre-post intervention comparison questionnaire.
Results All patients who enrolled in Re-PROGRAM completed the scheduled sessions. Of the individuals who returned the post-intervention questionnaire (n=14), 100% reported an overall improvement in their condition. Over 85% of patients reported a greater ability to control their seizures and an improvement in quality of life, with all but one reporting a reduction in seizure frequency. Most patients (93%) reported that their ‘life had changed’ as result of the program, and all patients indicated that they would recommend the program to others. Approximately one-third of patients (29%) reported a reduction in healthcare resource utilisation since completing the intervention.
Conclusions This retrospective evaluation demonstrates the feasibility and acceptability of Re-PROGRAM as a brief intervention for individuals diagnosed with functional seizures delivered in a clinical outpatient setting and warrants further investigation in larger scale, controlled studies.
