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The impact of ketogenic diet on the frequency of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES): A feasibility randomized pilot study.

Epilepsia open
April 1, 2025
Reinhard Janssen-Aguilar et al. (9 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to assess the feasibility and effects of a 6-week Modified Atkins Diet (MAD) intervention on PNES frequency, mental health, and metabolic measures in adult patients with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES), compared to a control healthy diet.

Results Summary

The study found that MAD was feasible and well-tolerated, significantly reducing PNES frequency and improving depression and anxiety symptoms by week six, though no differences were observed between the MAD and control diet groups in overall seizure reduction.

Population

Adult outpatients diagnosed with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES) (mean age 28.23 ± 7.1).

Effective Dosage

Not specified (Modified Atkins Diet protocol used).

Duration

6 weeks.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (9)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Modified Atkins Diet (MAD)
decrease
monthly PNES frequency
patients with PNES
p=0.01, Hedges ES=0.618
significant decrease
#1
Modified Atkins Diet (MAD)
decrease
PNES frequency
MAD group
-
significant improvement
#2
Modified Atkins Diet (MAD)
decrease
depression
MAD group
-
significant improvement
#3
Modified Atkins Diet (MAD)
decrease
anxiety
MAD group
-
significant improvement
#4
Modified Atkins Diet (MAD)
decrease
seizure frequency
patients with PNES
-
may reduce
#5
Modified Atkins Diet (MAD)
decrease
symptoms of depression
patients with PNES
-
may reduce
#6
Modified Atkins Diet (MAD)
decrease
symptoms of anxiety
patients with PNES
-
may reduce
#7
Modified Atkins Diet (MAD)
neutral
-
patients with PNES
-
is safe
#8
Modified Atkins Diet (MAD)
neutral
-
patients with PNES
-
well-tolerated
#9
Abstract

The potential of dietary interventions, particularly the use of the ketogenic diet in patients with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES), remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of a 6-week ketogenic diet (Modified Atkins Diet, MAD) intervention in adult patients with PNES and to compare its effects on PNES frequency and other variables against a control healthy diet (CD). A feasibility pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary neurology hospital, enrolling outpatients diagnosed with PNES and assigning them to either MAD or CD. Baseline and follow-up assessments (at 2, 4, and 6 weeks) included evaluation of mental health, PNES frequency, and metabolic measures. Descriptive and inferential methods, including repeated measures ANOVA, were used for statistical analysis. Seventeen patients (mean age 28.23 ± 7.1) were randomly allocated to receive either MAD (n = 12) or CD (n = 5). The entire sample exhibited a significant decrease in monthly PNES frequency (p = 0.01, Hedges ES = 0.618) without differences between groups. The MAD group showed significant improvement in PNES frequency, depression, and anxiety at week six. Results demonstrate that the implementation of MAD is feasible in patients with PNES and suggest that it may reduce seizure frequency and symptoms of depression and anxiety. These findings warrant further investigation in larger, powered studies to demonstrate efficacy. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This study explored the potential benefits of the Modified Atkins Diet (MAD) in reducing the frequency of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES). The results showed that the diet is safe, well-tolerated, and may decrease the occurrence of PNES, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety. These findings suggest that dietary modifications could be a helpful complement to PNES treatment, though larger studies are necessary to confirm these outcomes.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansPilot ProjectsAdultFemaleFeasibility StudiesMaleDiet, KetogenicSeizuresYoung AdultTreatment OutcomeDiet, High-Protein Low-Carbohydrate
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy75/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations1
Citations/Year1.0
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score2.57
Normalized Score0.78
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