Neuroactive steroids, relaxation, and seizure control.

Neuroactive steroids alter the excitability of membrane-bound receptors in the nervous system and have a modulatory role in the stress response and in epileptogenic activity. These changes can be detected in brain as well as in plasma. The resulting rapid (<1 min) action of neuroactive steroids might explain the success of some "alternative" approaches in seizure control. Design requirements for research to adequately examine relaxation training in epileptic patients, as well as corresponding changes in neuroactive steroid levels and seizure frequency, are described.