The experience of adjusting to a diagnosis of non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD) and the subsequent process of psychological therapy
Open accessAbstract
Purpose Research suggests psychological therapy as the treatment of choice for individuals diagnosed with NEAD. This study explored the experience of adjusting to a diagnosis of NEAD and engagement with therapy through a qualitative methodology.Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 people with a diagnosis of NEAD and analysed using thematic analysis.Results Six master-themes were generated, with four discussed. Two themes were not discussed due to previous coverage in the literature and their less direct relevance to the service context. Theme 1: 'understanding NEAD' incorporated participants' evolving understanding of the diagnosis and their reflections on this. Theme 2: 'I can't deal with you' centres on participants' accounts of relationships with professionals in the context of NEAD. Theme 3: 'experiences of psychological therapy' reflected participants' experience of being referred to psychology and gaining a deeper understanding of themselves through therapy. Theme 4: 'adjusting to life with NEAD' explores participants' views on living with NEAD and their expectations for the future.Conclusion This study extended previous research by highlighting the impact of how the diagnosis is received and understood on engagement in therapy. Improving awareness of NEAD amongst healthcare professionals is of key importance in reducing stigma and encouraging engagement in therapy.
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FCD patients have reported a high level of unemployment secondary to their illness.
“FCD patients have reported a high level of unemployment secondary to their illness (12).”
From A qualitative analysis of patients' day-to-day living with functional cognitive disorder (FCD). (2025) · cites this paper as [12]
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“…this sort of contradiction is difficult to reconcile but has been noted in other qualitative studies of adults with functional seizures when discussing their understanding of causes [42,43], and so perhaps also reflects how difficult it can be for people to make sense of their functional seizures.”
The journey to a diagnosis of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)Preprint
Pritomanova, I., Cope, S. R., James, B., Edwards, M. J., Smith, J. G., El‐Leithy, S., Vanzan, S., Hogwood, P., Golder, D., Turner, K. J., et al. (2025) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2025.07.02.25330696 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Montgomery, E. B. (2020) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-822829-6.00009-6
- Authors
- Wyatt, C., Laraway, A., & Weatherhead, S.
- Affiliations
- Lancaster University (GB)
- Royal Preston Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Wyatt, Caroline
- ORCID
- Wyatt, Caroline
- Venue
- Seizure
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2014-10
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 799-807
- ISSN
- 1059-1311 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1994426308
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 1.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Seizure (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- non-epileptic attack disorder, patient experience, patient-professional relationship, stigma, lived experience, coping with chronic illness
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychotherapy, Seizures, Social Behavior
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