Currently, hypothetical models of understanding Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES) involve emotional dysregulation. The hypothesis of a disorder of emotional experience is mainly based on behavioral data and disturbance of autonomic responses in response to images in emotional content (Mignot et al 2015, in submission; Bakvis et al 2013). Various imaging studies have identified brain structures belonging to the limbic system in particular that seem functionally impaired in this population. These functional connectivity abnormalities are correlated with dissociation scores in PNES patients (Van der Kruijs et al 2012 and 2014). Investigators propose to specifically study the brain activity of PNES patients during tasks emotional content to identify the mechanisms involved in this emotional dysregulation. This work is essential to understanding the mechanisms and the development of new therapeutic strategies
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
68
fMRI examination
psychiatric evaluation
CHRU de Nancy
Nancy, France
Brain activity
To compare brain activity during emotional tasks in fMRI (Blood-Oxygen-Level-Dependent contrast sequences) between: patients suffering from PNES, patients suffering from PTSD and healthy controls, with age and education level matching.
Time frame: 6 months after the last inclusion
Valence and intensity of the emotional images
To compare subjective experience rating across the three groups, during emotional pictures watching task;
Time frame: 6 months after the last inclusion
Cerebral functional connectivity
To compare differences of cerebral functional connectivity (main physiological brain networks) in resting state fMRI across the tree groups
Time frame: 6 months after the last inclusion
"Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) questionnaire" score and "Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS20) questionnaire" score
To study the correlation between cerebral activity and level of dissociation (DES) and alexithymia (TAS20) in PNES and PTSD groups
Time frame: 6 months after the last inclusion
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