Product reviews for Psychodynamics and Psychotherapy of Pseudoseizures

In `Psychodynamics and Psychotherapy of Pseudoseizures` Dalma Kalogjera-Sackellares has, at last, come out into the open and categorically stated that so-called psychotic disorders, such as undergoing pseudoseizures, defined as psychogenic non-epileptic states, can be successfully treated by psychotherapy rather than being suppressed by medical-drug intervention. The analysis of what constitutes the psychopathology of pseudoseizures should be essential reading for all medical, psychiatric and healthcare practitioners whose eyes should well and truly be opened by this admirable work.

Dalma Kalogjera-Sackellares classifies the cause of pseudoseizures as originating either from post-traumatic conditions, such as sexual trauma, serious head injury or traumatic life experience, and/or from inadequate psychosocial development which can result in psychological illness and over-dependence on others. Post-traumatic stress or impaired psychosocial development will indicate that the seeding incidents will not have been properly neurologically processed by the client who will remain in a state of overwhelm and may, thereby, exhibit symptoms of extreme dissociation, depression, anxiety, sexual inhibition, social withdrawal, intrusive imagery and cognitive inconsistency among others all of which are utilised as a coping-mechanism in the face of ongoing distress. 

Dalma Kalogjera-Sackellares explains in well researched and erudite detail the architecture of traumatic experience, which can result in the client's experience of pseudoseizure states, by drawing on psychoanalysis, object-relations theory and self psychology as well as including her own clinical observations and research into the nature of the pseudoseizure phenomenon. In `Psychodynamics and Psychotherapy of Pseudoseizures` Dalma Kalogjera-Sackellares reviews the research into the Freudian theory of complicated mourning, consisting of grief and inner conflict, which will manifest as a result of internalised traumatic experience of loss and disturbing relationships with significant others. Borderline syndrome and fusional attachment, taken from object-relations theory, and narcissistic injury and vulnerability, originating from self psychology, also come into the equation of the psychopathology of pseudoseizures. The author, furthermore, describes in depth the significance of the post-traumatic syndrome as an ecosystem consisting of projective identification, dissociation, uncontrollable anger, survivor guilt, intrusive recollection, perceived psychological entrapment and compulsive emotive outpouring. Finally, the phenomenon of initiative-inhibition contributes to the psychodynamic picture of pseudoseizures.

The treatment programme advocated by Dalma Kalogjera-Sackellares in `Psychodynamics and Psychotherapy of Pseudoseizure`s will allow the client to take personal responsibility for his recovery process rather than endeavouring to suppress or to avoid his symptom-pattern. The therapeutic practitioner then can assist the client to handle abreactive episodes, access the underlying cause, dissect the initiating traumatic experience, accept maternal deprivation, regain integrity, gain independence from his parents or carers, widen cognitive scope and reconstitute a fundamental belief in a safe and reliable world. 
Dalma Kalogjera-Sackellares concludes her impressive work with guidance for the psychotherapeutic practitioner who is advised to evaluate the client's chances of success by considering the prevalence of the post-traumatic syndrome in terms of complexity and chronicity, the persistence of pseudoseizure episodes, the extent of his traumatic experience and the presence of any co-morbid conditions. Armed with a history of the client's trauma and its nature in terms of loss, pervasive symptomatic regression, development crises, uncontrollable traumatic recollection, borderline syndrome, narcissistic injury and other clinical implications, the practitioner should be well equipped to proceed with empathetic understanding and clarity towards facilitating the client's successful resolution, restitution and recovery from the psychological damage he has previously sustained.