Development of family intervention for the management of psychogenic seizures a qualitative study

Abstract

Background: In the somatoform and dissociative spectrum, family functioning has been poorly researched based on the search in PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PROQUEST, EBSCO and Cochrane Reviews. In Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) primarily, family functioning has been understood as a comparison between Epileptic Seizures (ES) and PNES. However, an attempt to study different aspects of family functioning and its ability to influence the newlinemanifestation of the disorder is yet to be made. Methods: This study attempted to understand different family functions qualitatively by interviewing both the patients and family members of these patients. Nine patients and seven families of these patients participated in the study. Braun and Clarke s thematic model was used. Latent thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Based on the analysis, major and sub-themes were used to develop family intervention and a family psychoeducational model. Both were developed with the help of the GUIDED Checklist to report health interventions; the TIDieR format and Delphi newlinetechnique was used to collect the expert opinion of the developed intervention. newlineResults: Two sets of results and analyses were compiled with qualitative data, that is, for patients and families. Major themes and sub-themes were developed for both, including family interaction, attachment, poor communication, structural-systemic aspects, distressful family aspects, negative newlineexpressed emotions, cultural aspects, nature of the illness, family s views of the illness and coping mechanisms. These themes indicated the importance of family functioning and its impact on the manifestation of the disorder. newlineConclusion: The researcher concludes that family dysfunction can impact the manifestation of the disorder. Hence, an additional family intervention or psychoeducation is essential for holistic newlinetreatment.