Aura interruption: The Andrews/Reiter behavioral intervention may reduce seizures and improve quality of life — A pilot trial

Elsas, Siegward-M.; Gregory, William L.; White, Gentry; Navarro, Gemma; Salinsky, Martin; Andrews, Donna Joy

doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2011.09.030

Cited by 28 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…However, case series studies were explored to determine whether the same pattern of results was evidenced as discussed above. Two (of three) effective case series were depression‐focused CBT interventions (Macrodimitris et al., ; Crail‐Melendez et al., ), whereas, only one (of five; Elsas et al., ) that focused on seizure frequency was effective (Spector et al., ; Goldstein et al., ; Snead et al., ; Wagner et al., ). Furthermore, this study involved a high dose of CBT (6 months) and effects were lost at 6 months posttreatment (Elsas et al., ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A similar proportion of males (26%; SD 21; range 0-55.5) of a similar age (32 years; range 13-41) was evident. Most studies (n = 4) included participants with specific epilepsy criteria, temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE; Crail-Melendez et al, 2012), and poorly controlled epilepsy (Spector et al, 1999;Goldstein et al, 2003;Elsas et al, 2011). Recruitment was usually through tertiary referral services (6/7).…”

Section: Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cognitive behavior therapy for depression in people with epilepsy: A systematic review

2013

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SUMMARYCognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a recommended treatment for depression in people with epilepsy (PWE); however, a recent Cochrane review found that there was insufficient evidence that any psychological therapy is effective. This conclusion provides little help to clinicians who provide interventions for depressed PWE. The aim of this review was to systematically and qualitatively review the literature on the efficacy of CBT for depression in PWE based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and case series. We aim to determine patterns in the literature to inform the type of CBT, if any, that should be offered to PWE who are depressed. Databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane EBM Reviews were searched via OVID. Selection criteria included the following: (1) participants with epilepsy; (2) use of CBT; (3) valid depression outcome measure; and (4) published in peer-reviewed journal in English. Inclusions of studies were assessed by two independent researchers. We identified 14 outcome papers for 13 CBT trials including 6 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 7 case series. Positive effects of CBT on depression were reported in three of six RCTs. A review of their content revealed that all effective RCTs specifically tailored CBT to improve depression. Conversely, two of three RCTs that failed to find depression-related effects focused on improving seizure-control. This pattern was also observed in the case series. Although limited in number and having methodologic limitations, the treatment studies included in our review suggest that interventions tailored toward improving depression are possibly efficacious, whereas those that focus on improving seizure control do not appear to be. However, this review highlights that there is need for further RCTs in this area in order to confirm the possible efficacy of CBT for depression in PWE.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive behavior therapy for depression in people with epilepsy: A systematic review

2013

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“…On the same line, McElroy-Cox [22] mentioned that up to 44% of patients with epilepsy are successfully using some form of complementary alternative medicine treatment including meditation, relaxation techniques, and biofeedback. Additionally, Elsas et al [23] demonstrated that an epilepsy-specific behavioral approach comprising counseling and relaxation was successful in reducing or even eliminating emotional-triggered seizures. A similar report of the effectiveness of behavioral therapy in epilepsy as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy has been shown by Polak et al [24] who has also discussed the challenges of research in this area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of progressive relaxation technique in reducing epileptic seizures among adolescents

Sorour

Mohamed

2014

JNEP

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Epilepsy is a serious and a common neurological condition of which the medical, psychological and social implications are far-reaching and there is still a paucity of research in the psychology and social issues in epilepsy. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of progressive relaxation technique in reducing epileptic seizures among adolescents. The study was carried out on a convenience sample of 28 secondary school students attending the school health insurance center Beni-Suef city using a quasi-experimental design with pre-post assessment. Data collection tools included an interview questionnaire for the personal and disease characteristics; stress level was assessed using Cohen's (1994) 10-question tool. After a pretest, the researchers trained the participants in applying a stress management exercise, and asked them to practice it at home and to document the frequency and duration of daily practice using a diary for eight weeks. The post-intervention stress level was assessed using the same tool. The results revealed statistically significant changes in all ten items of the stress scale, with a median post-pre total difference of -0.3 (p < .001). The number of seizures decreased from a median of 3/week to one seizure in the last four weeks of follow-up (p < .001). A statistically significant weak negative correlation was found between the frequency of seizures and the number of progressive relaxation techniques practiced. The study findings indicate the effectiveness of a simple technique in improving the life of adolescents having epilepsy. However, the small sample size could not show the correlation between the practice of this relaxation technique and the frequency of the seizures. A randomized controlled clinical trial is recommended to confirm the findings.

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“…A recently completed prospective pilot study of the Andrews/Reiter intervention found that program compliance was required for seizure reduction. 20 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trigger self-control and seizure arrest in the Andrews/Reiter behavioral approach to epilepsy: A retrospective analysis of seizure frequency

Michaelis

Schonfeld²,

Elsas

2012

Epilepsy & Behavior

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The aim of this retrospective study is to describe changes of seizure frequency in epilepsy patients who participated in the Andrews/Reiter behavioral intervention for epilepsy. For this uncontrolled retrospective study, data was extracted from patients’ medical journals. Intention-to-treat-analyses were restricted to patients with sufficient documentation supporting a diagnosis of probable or definite epilepsy. Main outcome variable was a comparison of mean seizure frequency at baseline and towards completion of the program. The seizure frequency of 30 (50%%) patients showed a clinically meaningful improvement (>50% reduction of seizures) towards the end of the intervention. Twenty-two (37%) patients became seizure-free at the end of the intervention. In summary, a clinically meaningful reduction in reported seizure frequency was observed in epilepsy patients who received the Andrews/Reiter intervention for epilepsy. Prospective trials are needed to further investigate the program’s efficacy and to study epileptic seizure triggers.

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Aura interruption: The Andrews/Reiter behavioral intervention may reduce seizures and improve quality of life — A pilot trial

Cited by 28 publications

References 37 publications

Cognitive behavior therapy for depression in people with epilepsy: A systematic review

Cognitive behavior therapy for depression in people with epilepsy: A systematic review

Effect of progressive relaxation technique in reducing epileptic seizures among adolescents

Trigger self-control and seizure arrest in the Andrews/Reiter behavioral approach to epilepsy: A retrospective analysis of seizure frequency

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