Cross-cultural adaptation and preliminary evaluation of a psychoeducational booklet for functional/dissociative seizures: a study in a Chinese clinical context

Background: Functional/dissociative seizures (FDS) are common in neurological practice, yet access to psychological treatment remains limited. Psychoeducational interventions and written self-help information offer a pragmatic and scalable approach, but materials developed in Western contexts may require cultural adaptation for use in other healthcare systems.

Objective: To culturally adapt UK-developed psychoeducational booklets for FDS for use in China and to evaluate its feasibility, acceptability, and perceived usefulness.

Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Beijing. FDS psychoeducation materials originally developed in the UK were translated into Chinese, culturally adapted through expert review and patient testing, and subsequently back-translated to ensure conceptual equivalence with the original content. Five clinicians evaluated the materials using a questionnaire, and five patients participated in semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, and qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Expert ratings suggested favourable perceptions of clinical appropriateness and acceptability within the participating clinician sample (mean scores 3.40/4 to 3.85/4). Qualitative analysis identified three themes: need for healthcare system adaptation, challenges in clarity and patient acceptability, and importance of consistent terminology. Patients reported improved understanding and valued practical strategies, although some uncertainty regarding mechanisms remained.

Conclusions: The cultural adaptation process appeared feasible, and the adapted booklet was perceived as useful within this exploratory sample in a Chinese clinical context. Psychoeducation may represent a practical and scalable first step in settings with limited access to specialist care. Further research is needed to evaluate clinical outcomes and long-term impact.