The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) on the phantom limb pain (PLP) of patients with amputations within a 24-month follow-up. This study was a randomized-controlled trial. A total of 60 patients with amputations were selected by a purposive sampling and patients were divided randomly into two experimental and control groups. Samples were assigned through randomized allocation. EMDR therapy was administered individually to the experimental group participants in 12 one-hour sessions over a 1-month period In each session, the patient completed the Subjective Units of Distress Scale and a pain-rating scale before and after the intervention. Follow-up measures were obtained 24 months later for the experimental group. The participants in the control group were measured on the two scales at an initial session and again after 1- and 24-month follow-up. The mean PLP decreased in the experimental group between the first and last sessions and remained so at a 24-month follow-up. No decrease occurred for the control group over the 1- and 24-month period. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.001) according to a repeated-measures analysis of variance. EMDR therapy proved to be a successful treatment for PLP. Because of its efficacy and the fact that the positive effects were maintained at the 24-month follow-up, this therapy is recommended for the treatment of PLP.
The aim of this systematic review was to provide the required information regarding different aspects of the relationship between epilepsy/antiseizure medications and non‐alcoholic drinks. The recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement were followed. MEDLINE and Scopus from the inception until 7 August 2021 were systematically searched. These key words were used: “epilepsy” OR “seizure” OR “antiepileptic” OR “antiseizure” OR “anticonvulsant” AND “coffee” OR “tea” OR “soda” OR “juice” OR “drink” OR “cola” OR “diet” (35 key word combinations). The primary search yielded 21 458 publications (PubMed, n = 4778; Scopus, n = 16 680). Only 50 studies met all the inclusion criteria and were included in the current systematic review. In total, 17 articles investigated various non‐alcoholic drinks in human studies, 11 studies were case reports/series, and 22 articles were animal/in vitro studies. None of the studies provided a class 1 of evidence. There is limited evidence suggesting that certain drinks (eg, caffeinated energy drinks) might trigger seizures. Patients with epilepsy should avoid excessive consumption of certain fruit juices (eg, grapefruit, lime, pomegranate, kinnow, and star fruit) and caffeinated drinks. However, daily coffee and tea intake can be part of a healthy balanced diet, and their consumption does not need to be stopped in patients with epilepsy. Coffee/tea consumption is not harmful if consumed at levels of 200 mg (caffeine) in one sitting (about 2½ cups of coffee) or 400 mg daily (about five cups of coffee).
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