Recruiting

Cognitive Rehabilitation

Sponsor:

VA Office of Research and Development

Code:

NCT07316543

Conditions

Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES)

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Cognitive Rehabilitation And Functional Treatment (CRAFT)

Study Details

Brief summary:

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.

Conditions

Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES)

Study ID

NCT07316543

Start date

Mar 2, 2026

Status verified date

Mar, 2026

Completion date

Jul 1, 2031

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jul 1, 2031

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

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

Study Design

Enrollment

47 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

other: Intervention

Single arm of pilot trial testing the cognitive rehabilitation intervention

Interventions

Cognitive Rehabilitation And Functional Treatment (CRAFT)

Cognitive rehabilitation tailored to improve cognition and participation in daily activities for Veterans with PNES

Primary outcome measure

  • WHODAS 2.0 Total Score [ Time Frame: Once at baseline (prior to the intervention) and once following the 8-12 week intervention. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Madeleine R Lefkowitz, BS

(401) 127-7100Madeleine.Lefkowitz@va.gov

Alison Gorbatov

(401) 271-7100Alison.Gorbatov@va.gov

Locations

Providence VA Medical Center, Providence, RI

Recruiting

Providence, Rhode Island, United States, 02908-4734

Contacts

Kimberly Marcolivio, MEd CCRP

401-273-7100Kimberly.Marcolivio@va.gov

Kate J Barnabe, MHA

(401) 273-7100Kate.Barnabe@va.gov

Principal Investigator:

Ryan A Van Patten, PhD

More Information

Sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development

Last update posted

Mar 12, 2026

Last verified

Mar, 2026

Keywords

  • functional neurological disorder
  • functional/dissociative seizures
  • functional cognitive disorder
  • cognitive rehabilitation

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by VA Office of Research and Development on 2026-03-12.