Abstracts

Rationale: Admission to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) for diagnostic evaluations consisting of long-term video-EEG monitoring (VEEG) constitutes the diagnostic Gold standard in epileptology. This pilot study outlines the concept of a high-frequency systematic monitoring approach to psychological states and tested patients’ compliance to evaluate if its integration in the EMU is feasible and if admitted patients benefit from the graphically underpinned discussion of their EMU stay-related cognitions and emotions. Methods: The process-monitoring is technically realized by an internet-based device for data collection and data analysis, the Synergetic Navigation System (SNS). A convenient sample was enrolled: All eligible patients who were admitted to the EMU of the Department of Neurology, Christian Doppler Medical Center, Salzburg, Austria, between November 6th 2017 and January 26th 2018 were approached and recruited upon consent. After a short resource-oriented interview, each enrolled patient was provided with a tablet. The daily SNS questionnaire included eight fixed and up to six personalized items. Daytime self-assessments were collected every five hours prior to meal times (6:30am, 11:30am, and 4:30pm) and at 9:30pm. The detailed visualizations of the patients’ replies were discussed with the participants during a feedback session at the end of the EMU stay. Results: Twenty-one patients were consecutively recruited (72% of all eligible patients) (figure 1). Compliance rates were high (median: 82%, range 60%-100%) amongst the respondents. Mood correlated strongly with hopefulness, energy and perceived atmosphere in people with epilepsy. The correlation between the PSS and the NDDI-E with the median time series of energy was moderate and negative in people with epilepsy, while there was a moderate positive correlation between the QOLIE-10 and energy. Different correlation patterns were found in the subgroup of patients with PNES. Nine patients (43%) reported that they learned something meaningful about themselves after the feedback discussion of their individual time series. Conclusions: The results support the feasibility of high-frequency monitoring of psychological states and processes in routine EMU settings. Repeated daily collections of psychological surveys allow for the assessment of highly resolved, equidistant time series data, which gives insight into psychological states and processes during EMU admission. Funding: Rosa Michaelis’ research was funded by the MAHLE foundation and the Integrated Curriculum for Anthroposophic Medicine (ICURAM), University Witten/Herdecke.