Cognitive behaviour therapy with adults with intractable epilepsy and psychiatric co-morbidity: preliminary observations on changes in psychological state and seizure frequency

Behav Res Ther. 2003 Apr;41(4):447-60. doi: 10.1016/s0005-7967(02)00025-6.

Abstract

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) was undertaken with six adults with chronic, poorly controlled seizures and co-existing psychiatric and/or psychosocial difficulties. During 12 sessions of CBT from an experienced CBT Nurse Specialist, treatment focused concurrently on epilepsy-related problems, associated psychopathology and on the development of psychological strategies to reduce seizure occurrence. At the end of treatment participants rated their initial epilepsy-related problem as having less impact on their daily lives and at one-month follow-up reported less deleterious impact on everyday life in terms of their psychological difficulties. In addition participants demonstrated significant improvements in terms of their self-rated work and social adjustment, and in their decreased use of escape-avoidance coping strategies. These positive findings occurred despite the absence of a significant decrease in seizure frequency. Issues raised by the complexity and severity, both of these patients' psychological/psychosocial difficulties and their epilepsy, are discussed in relation to the optimal length of treatment that may be required when adopting a CBT model in this patient group.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Epilepsy / psychology
  • Epilepsy / therapy*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / complications*
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Social Adjustment