Cognitive Rehabilitation for Veterans With PNES

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) reflect a subtype of functional neurological disorder (FND) that is common and extremely disabling in Veterans. Cognitive problems are highly prevalent in PNES, they reduce quality of life, and they severely limit daily functioning. Currently, there are no available treatments that target cognition to improve daily function in PNES or other FNDs, leaving a major gap in the literature. Cognitive re-habilitation improves daily functioning in Veterans with related neuropsychiatric disorders and has a high chance of success in Veterans with PNES. The proposed study will solicit direct input from Veterans with PNES via qualitative interviews to inform the design of a cognitive treatment workbook. The workbook will then be iteratively refined based on participatory feedback from Veterans with PNES and their treatment providers. The full cognitive intervention protocol will be pilot tested to inform a fully powered RCT. Results will support a line of research that aims to improve cognition and function in Veterans with PNES and related FNDs.