ReACT therapy to boost control and reduce catastrophic symptom expectations in children with non-epileptic seizures
Official title: Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT): Sense of control and catastrophic symptom expectations as targets of a cognitive behavioral treatment for pediatric psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES)
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11179204 · Data updated 2026-11-12
ReACT is a therapy for children and teens with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures designed to help them feel more in control and reduce seizure-like episodes by changing how they interpret symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | July 22, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $666,014 |
| NIH project number | 5R33MH127155-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11179204 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adolescents diagnosed with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) who can participate in talk-based therapy and whose families can attend sessions are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children whose events are due to epilepsy with EEG correlates, those unable to engage in talk therapy, or those with severe uncontrolled medical or psychiatric conditions may not benefit from this therapy.
What this research studies
You and your child would meet with a therapist to learn ReACT, a cognitive behavioral approach that teaches retraining techniques and skills to increase a sense of control over seizure-like events. The program focuses on reducing catastrophic expectations — the tendency to interpret bodily sensations as dangerous — and on practicing behavioral strategies to prevent episodes. Progress is tracked through reports of seizure frequency, questionnaires about control and symptom beliefs, and follow-up visits. Parents are often involved to support skill practice and daily routines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, ReACT could lower the number of seizure-like episodes and improve daily functioning and family quality of life for children with PNES.
How similar studies have gone: A recently published randomized trial of ReACT showed significant reductions in PNES frequency in children, while prior adult CBT and SSRI trials did not reliably reduce PNES.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fobian, Aaron D — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Fobian, Aaron D
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.