An interventional study of ReACT in Convulsion, Non-Epileptic, sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 11 Years to 18 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-26.
Sponsored by University of Alabama at Birmingham · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The purpose of this study is to assess sense of control and catastrophic symptom expectations as targets for Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT- an intervention focused on changing behaviors and thoughts) for treatment of pediatric psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES, episodes resembling epileptic seizures but with no medical explanation). 11-18-year-olds diagnosed with PNES will engage in twelve sessions of ReACT. Sense of control over actions will be measured by the magic and turbulence task, a well-validated measure of sense of control. Participants will complete the cold pressor test (CPT) in which participants hold their hand in cool water for as long as possible up to 3 minutes. Catastrophic symptom expectations in response to the CPT will be measured by Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children (PCS-C) pain tolerance (time with hand in water) and cortisol response. Target assessments will occur 7 days before treatment, 7 days after 8th treatment session and 7 days after 12th treatment session. Participants will also complete long term follow-up visits via HIPAA-compliant Zoom at 6 months and 12 months after the 12th treatment session where participants will complete questionnaires. PNES frequency will be measured from 30 days before to 12 months after treatment.
PNES participants and their parent come to our laboratory for a baseline visit, 2 follow-up visits and 12 therapy sessions. Participants will complete 2 long-term follow-up visits at 6 months and 12 months after the 12th treatment session via HIPAA-compliant Zoom. Half of the participants will be randomized to receive 2 booster therapy sessions after treatment. Participants must provide EEG results indicating a diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.
During the initial visit, participants and their parent will complete several questionnaires assessing demographics, mood and suicidality, relationships with friends and family, as well as past and current PNES symptoms. They will also complete the childhood trauma questionnaire. The treatment targets (sense of control and catastrophic symptom expectations), will be measured by the magic and turbulence computer task and pain tolerance, PCS-C and cortisol response to the CPT, respectively. After completing the CPT, participants will be randomized to receive a pain relief lotion or a pain sensitivity lotion. Participants will then repeat the CPT with the lotion applied to their hand. PNES diaries will be completed to assess PNES frequency over the previous 30 days. The baseline lab visit will last about 3 hours. Saliva will be collected over 3 time points before and after each CPT to measure cortisol response to the CPT. Participants will also collect 2 saliva samples 24 hours later to serve as a baseline outside of the laboratory setting. Participants will also be given a Respironics Actiwatch Spectrum Pro to track sleep and PNES episode severity and frequency for the 1 week between the baseline visit and first ReACT session.
All participants will then be scheduled to return in one week for their first of 12 sessions of ReACT. Before beginning the first ReACT session, participants will complete the Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention, List Sorting Working Memory, Pattern Comparison Processing Speed, Dimensional Change Card Sort, and Picture Sequence Memory subtests. This first session will last a maximum of two hours, and the following 11 sessions will be scheduled weekly and will each last one hour. The following 11 sessions are currently conducted via telehealth due to COVID-19. Participants will be mailed another Respironics Actiwatch Spectrum Pro before the 11th therapy session to track sleep and PENS episode severity and frequency for the 2 weeks between the 11th therapy session and the lab visit one week after the 12th treatment session.
To assess treatment dose, participants will return for post lab visits one week after the 8th treatment session and 12th treatment sessions to perform tasks and fill out questionnaires completed at baseline. Long-term follow-up at 6 months and 12 months after treatment will also be conducted to assess FS frequency and questionnaires. Participants will complete the Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention, List Sorting Working Memory, Pattern Comparison Processing Speed, Dimensional Change Card Sort, and Picture Sequence Memory subtests at the lab visit after the 12th treatment session. Each of these sessions will last about 1 to 2 hours. PNES frequency will be measured from 30 days before treatment to 12 months after treatment through PNES diaries completed by the parent and the participant.
After treatment, half of the participants will be randomized to receive 2 booster therapy sessions at 3 months and 9 months after the end of treatment. Each of these sessions will last one hour.
Healthy controls are matched to participants with PNES based on age (+ or - 1 year), gender, race and family income. Healthy controls and their parent come for a baseline laboratory visit and a follow up visit 13 weeks after the baseline visit. The baseline and follow-up appointments for healthy controls will be identical to the visits for children with PNES.
766 studies on the registry are indexed under Seizures; 136 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 68 is close to the median of 64 across 519 interventional studies indexed under Seizures.
Browse Seizures studies →University of Alabama at Birmingham is the lead sponsor of 1,421 studies on the registry; 277 are open to participants now.
Of its 164 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 130 (79%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Exclusion for CPT:
During the initial visit participant will do the cold pressor test twice to assess catastrophic symptom expectations. After completing the 1st CPT, participants will be randomized to receive a pain relief lotion or pain sensitivity lotion. Participants will then repeat the CPT with the lotion applied to their hand.
Behavioral: ReACT
During the initial visit participant will do the cold pressor test twice to assess catastrophic symptom expectation. After completing the 1st CPT, participants will be randomized to receive a pain relief lotion or pain sensitivity lotion. Participants will then repeat the CPT with the lotion applied to their hand.
Behavioral: ReACT
After completing the 12 therapy sessions, half of the participants will be randomized to receive 2 booster therapy sessions, 3 months and 9 months after the 12th ReACT treatment session.
Behavioral: ReACT
After completing the 12 ReACT treatment sessions, half of the participants will be randomized to not receive the 2 booster therapy sessions.
Behavioral: ReACT
Healthy controls are matched to participants with PNES based on age (+ or - 1 year), gender, race and family income. Healthy controls and their parent come for 1 baseline laboratory visit and a follow up visit 13 weeks after the baseline visit. These visits will be identical to baseline and follow-up visits of children with PNES.
ReACT is a novel cognitive behavioral treatment and is a PNES intervention that targets sense of control and catastrophic symptom expectations
Also known as: Retraining and Control Therapy
Magic and turbulence task
Measure of perceived sense of control in response to tasks in which control is manipulated; Greater negative numbers indicate improved understanding of control. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 7 months
Pain catastrophizing scale for children- situation specific
Measures catastrophic symptom expectations; score ranges from 0-52, higher scores indicate greater levels of pain-related anxiety. Assessment done after performing Cold Pressor Test. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 7 months
Pain tolerance (time)
Measures catastrophic symptom expectations. Measured by the total time the participant can keep their hand in cool water during the Cold Pressor Test. Shorter time indicates less pain tolerance. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 7 months
Salivary cortisol response to Cold Pressor Test
Measures catastrophic symptom expectations. Measured before and after the cold pressor test. Increased cortisol response indicate increased perceived pain severity. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 7 months
Pain Rating Scale
Measures perceived pain severity after the CPT; score ranges from 0-100. Higher scores indicate greater perceived pain severity. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 7 months
Stroop task
Measure of cognitive inhibition and selective attention, higher scores means poorer cognitive inhibition and selective attention. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 7 months
PNES Frequency
Measured by Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES) diary, including frequency, premonitory symptoms, description of PNES symptoms and duration. Assessed 30 days before treatment to 12 months after the 12th treatment session (about 16 months total). Frequency and severity also measured by Respironics Actiwatch Spectrum Pro. Assessed for 1 week between baseline visit and 1st therapy session and 2 weeks between 11th therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 4 months total).
Time frame: 16 months
Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children (PCS-C)- General
Measures catastrophic symptom expectations; score ranges from 0-52, higher scores indicate greater levels of pain-related anxiety. Assessment done before performing Cold Pressor Test. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 16 months
Children's Somatic Symptoms Inventory (CSSI-24)
General somatic symptom complaints, higher scores indicate greater somatic complaints. Scores range from 0-140. Completed by participant and parent. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 16 months
Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI)
Assesses catastrophic symptom expectations; higher scores indicate greater anxiety. Completed by participant and parent. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 16 months
Shipley
Assesses verbal IQ; higher scores indicate greater verbal IQ. Completed by participant at the baseline visit.
Time frame: At baseline
Quality of Life in Epilepsy for Adolescents (QOLIE-AD-48)
Assesses health-related quality of life for children with epilepsy (used in PNES participants by instructing them to consider their PNES when asked about "seizures"); score ranges from 0-100, higher scores indicate better functioning and well-being. Completed by participant. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 16 months
Sense of Agency Scale
Single question which asks "How much control do you believe you have over your PNES?". Completed by participant. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 16 months
LEVEL 2-Somatic Symptom report adapted from the Participant Health Questionnaire Physical Symptoms
Measures symptom severity in children; higher scores indicate greater symptom severity. Completed by participant and parent. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 16 months
Functional Disability Inventory (FDI)
Completed by child and parent to measure physical functioning and disability in children with chronic pain; score ranges from 0-60, higher scores indicate greater perceived functional disability. Completed by participant and parent. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 16 months
The Impact on Family Scale
Assesses parental perceptions of the impact of a child's medical condition on the family; higher scores indicate greater financial burden on the family. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 16 months
Childhood Trauma Questionnaire
History of physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse and physical and emotional neglect, higher scores indicate greater abuse/neglect. Completed by participant at baseline visit.
Time frame: At Baseline
The Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS)
Measures anxiety and depression symptoms in children; higher scores indicate increased symptom severity. Completed by participant and parent. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 16 months
The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)
Measure that addresses the full range of suicidal thoughts and behaviors that suggest a person is at heightened risk of committing suicide. Completed by trained research study coordinator. Assessed at baseline visit, 1 week after the 8th therapy session, 1 week, 6 months and 12 months after the final therapy sessions (about 16 months total).
Time frame: 16 months
Healthcare Related Stigma Questionnaire
Measures stigma in patients and their parents related to their interaction with health care providers; higher scores indicate greater stigma. Completed by participant and parent. Assessed at baseline visit.
Time frame: At Baseline
COVID-19 Functional Neurological Disorders (FND) Questionnaire
Assesses the effect of COVID-19 diagnosis in FND patients. Completed by Children. Assessed at baseline visit
Time frame: At Baseline
Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Subtest
Subtest of the National Institute of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery. Measures executive function and attention; higher scores indicate better performance. Completed by children. Assessed at 1st therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 4 months total).
Time frame: 4 months
List Sorting Working Memory Subtest
Subtest of the National Institute of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery. Measures working memory; higher scores indicate better performance. Completed by children. Assessed at 1st therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 4 months total).
Time frame: 4 months
Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Subtest
Subtest of the National Institute of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery. Measures processing speed; higher scores indicate better performance. Completed by children. Assessed at 1st therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 4 months total).
Time frame: 4 months
Dimensional Change Card Sort Subtest
Subtest of the National Institute of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery. Measures executive function; higher scores indicate better performance. Completed by children. Assessed at 1st therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 4 months total).
Time frame: 4 months
Picture Sequence Memory Subtest
Subtest of the National Institute of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery. Measures episodic memory; higher scores indicate better performance. Completed by children. Assessed at 1st therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 4 months total).
Time frame: 4 months
Sleep Duration
Measures total sleep duration in a 24-hour day. Objectively measured using Respironics Actiwatch Spectrum Pro and subjectively measured using sleep diaries. Worn/completed by children. Assessed for 1 week between baseline visit and 1st therapy session and 2 weeks between 11th therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 4 months total).
Time frame: 4 months
Sleep Efficiency
Measures quality of sleep. Objectively measured using Respironics Actiwatch Spectrum Pro and subjectively measured using sleep diaries. Worn/completed by children. Assessed for 1 week between baseline visit and 1st therapy session and 2 weeks between 11th therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 4 months total).
Time frame: 4 months
Sleep Onset Latency
Refers to the time it took the child to fall asleep after lying down in bed. Objectively measured using Respironics Actiwatch Spectrum Pro and subjectively measured using sleep diaries. Worn/completed by children. Assessed for 1 week between baseline visit and 1st therapy session and 2 weeks between 11th therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 4 months total).
Time frame: 4 months
Sleep - Bed Time
Measures total time in bed in a 24-hour day. Objectively measured using Respironics Actiwatch Spectrum Pro and subjectively measured using sleep diaries. Worn/completed by children. Assessed for 1 week between baseline visit and 1st therapy session and 2 weeks between 11th therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 5 months total).
Time frame: 4 months
Sleep - Wake Time
Measures total awake time in a 24-hour day. Objectively measured using Respironics Actiwatch Spectrum Pro and subjectively measured using sleep diaries. Worn/completed by children. Assessed for 1 week between baseline visit and 1st therapy session and 2 weeks between 11th therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 4 months total).
Time frame: 4 months
PNES Episode Frequency
Measures the total number of PNES episodes the child had in a day. Objectively measured using Respironics Actiwatch Spectrum Pro. Worn by children. Assessed for 1 week between baseline visit and 1st therapy session and 2 weeks between 11th therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 4 months total).
Time frame: 4 months
PNES Episode Duration
Measures the duration of a PNES episode. Objectively measured using Respironics Actiwatch Spectrum Pro. Worn by children. Assessed for 1 week between baseline visit and 1st therapy session and 2 weeks between 11th therapy session and 1 week after 12th therapy session (about 4 months total).
Time frame: 4 months
Child Self-Report Tic Questionnaire
Assesses intensity and frequency of motor and vocal tics reported by children at baseline and follow-up visits.
Time frame: 16 months
Parent Tic Questionnaire
Assesses intensity and frequency of motor and vocal tics experienced by children. Parent completes this questionnaire at baseline and follow-up visits.
Time frame: 16 months
Yale Global Tic Severity Scale
Assesses intensity and frequency of motor and vocal tics experienced by children. Completed by therapist at 1st therapy session and 12th therapy session.
Time frame: 6 months
Started Oct 2021 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2026, 62 months after the start.
Of 74 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Seizures, half reached primary completion within 33 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 22 and three quarters within 53. This study's planned 62 months is above that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 83 studies reached it within 32 months; a quarter within 22 and three quarters within 51.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
University of Alabama at Birmingham →