Important, novel research
Commenting on the research, Barbara Dworetzky, MD, Chief, Epilepsy, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and professor of neurology, Harvard Medical School, said it’s “important and novel.”
The study focuses on the main factors – or themes – that lead to increased stress, such as bullying, isolation, and “not being believed,” that are likely triggers for PNES, said Dr. Dworetzky.
The study is also important because it focuses on factors that help make the girls “feel supported and protected” – for example, having staff “take the episodes seriously,” she said.
The study’s qualitative measures “are a valid way of understanding these girls and giving them a voice,” said Dr. Dworetzky. She added the study provides “practical information” that could help target treatments to improve outcomes in this group.
A limitation of the study was that the very small cohort of teenage girls was selected only through families in Facebook support groups or flyers to school nurses, said Dr. Dworetzky.
“There are likely many other groups who don’t even have families trying to help them. Larger cohorts without this type of bias may be next steps.”
A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.