Benjamin D. Tolchin, MD, MS, assistant professor of neurology, will receive the Epilepsia Clinical Prize for the best clinical research published last year in Epilepsia, the journal of the International League Against Epilepsy. Tolchin has been a leading researcher and clinician in the area of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), a condition frequently misdiagnosed as epilepsy in which seizures occur but the neurological malfunctions of epilepsy are not involved. Treatment of PNES as if it were epilepsy can be ineffective and even harmful, and also delay care that can relieve the debilitating symptoms of PNES.
Highly specialized and intensive psychotherapy is often an effective treatment for PNES, and the prizewinning paper, Randomized controlled trial of motivational interviewing for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures, examined an aspect of that therapy as a way to improve treatment adherence, PNES frequency, and quality of life among patients.
In reaction to the honor, on behalf of the research team, Tolchin says, “We are hopeful that this prize will raise awareness about the need for improved diagnosis and treatment for patients with psychogenic seizures and other functional neurological disorders.”
Tolchin will receive the honor during a virtual symposium to be held on June 17.