Abstracts

RATIONALE: It has been hypothesized that stress can effect seizures. There have been several studies which have shown that relaxation training is effective in decreasing seizure frequency (Whitman et al., 1990); (Rousseau et al., 1985). It has also been demonstrated that relaxation training can result in improved feelings of well-being (Rousseau et al., 1985). The two studies referenced above studied the effects of progressive relaxation on epilepsy. The effects of other methods of relaxation including: diaphragmatic breathing, imagery/visualization, and autogenic training have not been studied. The current study attempts to study the effects of a stress management training program designed for people with epilepsy which incorporates diaphragmatic breathing, imagery/visualization, progressive muscle relaxation and autogenic training.
METHODS: Eightteen subjects were recruited from the general population of people with epilepsy in the New York City area and from people who are clients at The Epilepsy Institute in New York City. Nine subjects were assigned to the control group and did not receive the stress management training. The subjects in this group completed the QOLIE-89 three times: at the beginning of their participation in the study, after fourteen weeks of participation in the study, and after one year of participation in the study. The subjects in the control group also kept track of the number and type of seizures they had each month while they were in the study. The nine subjects in the treatment group also completed the QOLIE-89 three times: at the beginning of their participation in the study, after fourteen weeks of participation in the study, and after one year of participation in the study. These subjects also kept track of the number and type of seizures they had each month. The treatment group was given six individual sessions of weekly (one hour per week) training in four methods of relaxation: diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, imagery/visualization, and autogenic training. After this initial six week training period, they met with the stress management trainer individually for four more sessions (one session every other week) over an eight week period in order to further develop their stress management techniques. Following these four sessions, the treatment group members each met individually with the stress management trainer one time per month for the next eight months in order to continue to receive support and training in stress management.
RESULTS: The majority of participants in the treatment group reported both a reduced frequency in the number of seizures they had per month and an improvement in their quality of life. Qualitative changes in participants[ssquote] seizures were also observed.
CONCLUSIONS: Stress management training is helpful in reducing the frequency of seizures and in improving the quality of life for people with epilepsy.