Mindfulness-based Psychotherapy for Drug-resistant Epilepsy

The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Status: Completed

Conditions: Epilepsy; Stress

Treatments: Behavioral: Mindfulness-based therapy; Behavioral: Social support group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02060422

CRE-2011.167-T (Other Identifier)

VP-2011

Details and patient eligibility

About

Psychological problems are prevalent among patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. The bi-directional interaction between psychological well-being and seizure have been recognized in recent years. Reduction of psychological stress has the potential to improve seizure manifestation.

The present study uses an assessor-blinded prospective randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of a mindfulness-based psychotherapy and an attentional-placebo social support on improving psychological well-being, seizure control and cognitive performance among adult patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Enrollment: 60 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• a diagnosis of epilepsy
• over 18 years of age
• resistant to pharmacological treatment according to the ILAE guideline
• no previous history of neurosurgery
• adequate level of reading and understanding ability to fill in questionnaires
• capable to communicate with the investigator with considerable expressive capacity
• patients who agree to cooperate with the study procedures required by the protocol
• patients who understand the nature of the study, agree to participate and sign the informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

• with primary diagnosis of substance use disorder, mood disorder, bipolar affective disorder, psychosis, or organic mental disorder
• with diagnosis of learning disability or mental retardation

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Social support group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Social support group is an attention-placebo with the same contact hours (four bi-weekly two-and-a-half-hour) as the experimental group, but without active treatment input. The aim of the social support group is to provide a supportive group atmosphere for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Social support group

Mindfulness-based therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Mindfulness-based therapy is a four biweekly two-and-a-half-hour psychotherapy tailored for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. The aims of this therapy are to introduce and practice mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques in coping with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mindfulness-based therapy