Right temporoparietal junction transcranial direct current stimulation in the treatment of functional dissociative seizures: a case series.

Functional dissociative seizures (FDSs) are clinical events that resemble epileptic seizures but are not associated with abnormal brain electrical discharges or other physiological problems. In this pilot case series, ten adults with FDSs were recruited from our psychiatry department after being referred by a neurologist who made the diagnosis of FDS based on video EEG results. Each subject received ten sessions of cathodal tDCS focused on the right temporoparietal junction. A significant decrease in weekly seizure frequency was seen in all participants between baseline (30.2 ± 70.3 events) and 1 month after tDCS treatment (0.2 ± 0.3events) (p = 0.006). Main predisposing factors were unchanged after treatment.

Organization of French outpatient psychiatric clinics and delay to appointment.

OBJECTIVES: The goals of the study were to obtain a glimpse of the several types of organization of outpatient psychiatric clinics, as well as an overview of delays between a request for and the first appointment. We also look at geographical variability of appointment scheduling delays and assess the impact of the number of new applications on delays. METHODS: We analyzed information collected from a phone survey conducted with the 103 adult outpatient psychiatric clinics of the French region Hauts-de-France. This survey had a one-week inclusion period in November 2022 and focused on the organization and delays before obtaining an appointment. RESULTS: This study indicates that organizations seem to be homogeneous. Eighty-one outpatient psychiatric clinics (96.4%) receive with scheduled appointments. The initial evaluation by a nurse followed with a proposal for the organization of care seems to be the common practice. It also appears that primary psychiatric structures were capable of providing a response within a reasonable time frame in making a first appointment with a mental health professional. On the other hand, delays were much longer and heterogeneous for first appointments with psychiatrists and psychologists. CONCLUSIONS: The organizations of the outpatient psychiatric clinics of the French region Hauts-de-France seem homogeneous. The evaluation by a nurse followed with a care proposal is the common practice. Primary psychiatric structures are able to provide a response within a reasonable time, with half the centers proposing an appointment with a nurse within 10.0 days.