Sustained improvement with mindfulness-based therapy for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.
Epilepsy Behav
; 126: 108478, 2022 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34922325
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
We previously reported on the efficacy of a manualized 12-session mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) for psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Completion of MBT provided improvements in weekly PNES frequency and self-rated intensity.OBJECTIVES:
In this study, we aimed to determine sustainability of improvement of seizure-related measures at 3- to 6-month follow-up after treatment completion. We also examined changes at treatment end and at follow-up on therapeutic targets of the MBT program.METHODS:
Patients with documented PNES were recruited from 2014 to 2018. Baseline measures were collected at time of diagnosis (T0) and at first follow-up post-diagnosis (T1). Outcomes are reported at MBT treatment completion (T3) and 3- to 6-month follow-up (T4). The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for pair-wise comparisons of PNES frequency; linear mixed models were used for other outcomes.RESULTS:
Fourteen of the 26 MBT completers (54%) attended follow-up (median 147.5â¯days between T3 and T4). PNES frequency, intensity, and number of days/week with PNES remained reduced at T4 (pâ¯<â¯0.01 for all; median frequency reduction 1.3/week from T1). Illness perception and feeling understood remained improved at T4 (pâ¯<â¯0.001 for both) as did worry about PNES (pâ¯<â¯0.05). Illness attribution (physical, mental or both) changed from T0 to T3 (pâ¯<â¯0.01), but not to T4. Psychological flexibility did not change over time.CONCLUSION:
Previously reported improvements in seizure-related measures with MBT at treatment conclusion were maintained at 3- to 6-month follow-up. There were sustained improvements in some underlying processes (illness perception, feeling understood, and symptom worry) over the course of treatment and at follow-up. Long-term benefits of MBT need to be established with randomized controlled trials.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Mindfulness
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Epilepsy Behav
Journal subject:
CIENCIAS DO COMPORTAMENTO
/
NEUROLOGIA
Year:
2022
Document type:
Article