Mindfulness-based intervention to promote psychological wellbeing in people with epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: We investigated the efficacy of mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) in promoting psychological wellbeing in people with epilepsy (PWE) using an assessor-blinded randomized controlled design.

Methods: A total of 28 PWE were randomly assigned to either intervention (n = 14 cases) or control group (n = 14 controls). The intervention group received a six 2.5-hour weekly MBI, while the control group did not receive any intervention. They were assessed at three timepoints (T0: before intervention, T1: immediately after intervention, and T2: 6 weeks after intervention). Repeated measures of analyses of variance (RM-ANOVAs) were used for inter-group comparisons to determine intervention effect from baseline -to T1 and -to T2 for all outcome measures. The individual changes were calculated using the reliable change index (RCI). Key outcomes included depression (BDI-II), anxiety (BAI), epilepsy-related quality of life (QOLIE-31), satisfaction with life (SWLS), and level of mindfulness (MAAS).

Results: Participants who participated in the MBI showed significant reduction in BDI-II (p = 0.001), significant increases in MAAS (p = 0.027) and QOLIE-31 (p = 0.001) at T1 when compared with the control group. However, BAI and SWLS were not significant. The trend was similar at 6-week follow-up, all outcome measures of MBI remained significant (p < 0.05) except for BAI and SWLS. Beyond the 6-week intervention, RCI analysis showed a significant improvement in levels of mindfulness (45.45% vs. 21.43%, p = 0.009), depression (45.45% vs. 0.00%, p = 0.016), quality of life (45.45% vs. 14.29%, p = 0.017) with MBI, as compared to the no-intervention phase.

Conclusion: Mindfulness-based intervention is effective in reducing psychological distress and improving the quality of life in PWE.

Keywords: Depression; Epilepsy; Mindfulness; Psychological interventions; Quality of life.