Cognitive Rehabilitation for Veterans With PNES

Significance to VA: A cognitive intervention for Veterans with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) and other functional neurological disorders (FNDs) is desperately needed. FNDs such as PNES are prevalent, underrecognized, and highly disabling in Veterans. Cognitive dysfunction is one of the most common and disabling symptoms in PNES and other FNDs, it contributes to reduced quality of life, and it is not adequately ad-dressed by available treatments. RCTs examining cognitive rehabilitation interventions in related disorders (e.g., TBI) have repeatedly shown that improving cognition leads to improvements in everyday functioning, including work, school, medication management, and driving. Therefore, a similar approach to treating cognitive problems in Veterans with PNES is very likely to improve their everyday functioning. The current CDA2 project will develop and pilot test a cognitive intervention, adapted from prior successful treatments (e.g., in TBI), and tailored to Veterans with PNES. Because of strong overlap between PNES and other FNDs, the intervention from this CDA2 will be ideally suited for adaptation for the >60,000 U.S. Veterans with any subtype of FND.

Innovation and Impact: This is the first study to develop and pilot test an intervention, grounded in a rehabilitation framework and Veteran participant feedback, to improve cognition and daily functioning in Veterans with PNES. Telehealth will be used for all aspects of the current project, facilitating nationwide study recruitment. Telehealth will improve representativeness of the current study sample (enhancing generalizability) and will increase Veteran access to the intervention by reducing barriers to treatment. Strategies from implementation science (e.g., participatory Veteran research) will be infused into the intervention from the start. This will lead to a cognitive intervention that is ideally suited for dissemination and sustainability in VA clinics nationwide.

Specific Aims:

Aim 1: Explore the impact of cognition on daily function via qualitative interviews in 15 Veterans with PNES.

H1: Problems in attention/processing speed will be related to worse daily function in Veterans with PNES.

Aim 2: Develop a feasible telehealth-based cognitive rehabilitation workbook for improving daily functioning in Veterans with PNES, informed by feedback from 12 Veterans with PNES and 12 treatment providers.

H2: The cognitive workbook for improving everyday functions will show promise, as measured by mean workbook ratings of 4 on the Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM), Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM), and Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM) in Veterans with PNES and PNES treatment providers.

Aim 3: Evaluate feasibility of the cognitive treatment with a pilot single arm trial in 20 Veterans with PNES.

H3a: Veterans with PNES will rate the cognitive treatment protocol, including functional outcome measures, as acceptable, appropriate, and feasible, based on mean ratings of 4 on the AIM, IAM, and FIM, respectively.

H3b: Veterans with PNES will show improvement in the co-primary outcomes of cognition and daily functioning, with at least a small to moderate effect size (d 0.30).

Methodology: Veterans with PNES will be recruited from 19 nationwide VA Epilepsy Centers of Excellence sites. Feasibility of recruitment is supported by my VISN1 CDA study. CDA2 Study 1 will analyze qualitative interview data in Veterans with PNES to inform workbook development. Study 2 will develop a cognitive treatment workbook, with the AIM, IAM, and FIM as outcomes. Study 3 will pilot test the intervention, with feasibility (AIM, IAM, and FIM), and composite cognition and daily function (WHODAS 2.0) scores as outcomes.

Path to Translation/Implementation: This CDA2 responds to a golden opportunity to develop, refine, and pilot test a workbook-based cognitive intervention for Veterans with PNES. The cognitive intervention will be well suited for a subsequent fully powered RCT (an anticipated VA Merit Award), which can demonstrate efficacy and effectiveness. Because the cognitive intervention will be designed with implementation in mind from the start, it will be perfectly positioned for immediate dissemination and sustainability within the VA system.

Inclusion criteria

• U.S. Veteran
• able to provide informed consent
• reports cognitive difficulties
• prior video EEG diagnosis of PNES
• English speaking
• able to read at least at 8th grade level
• access to a private space with a computer (13-inch monitor)
• internet access

Exclusion criteria

• acute psychosis (hallucinations or delusions)
• current active suicidality
• a diagnosis of dementia or intellectual disability
• sensory impairment (e.g., deafness) that would preclude participation