Ioanna Rizou1, Veronique De Gucht2, Antigone Papavasiliou3, Stan Maes4. 1. Child Psychiatry Department, Mental Health Center of General Hospital of Athens "G. Gennimatas", Athens, Greece. Electronic address: giannarizou@gmail.com. 2. Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Department, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: degucht@fsw.leidenuniv.nl. 3. Child Neurology Department, Pendeli Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: theon@otenet.gr. 4. Health, Medical and Neuropsychology Department, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: maes@fsw.leidenuniv.nl.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the development and initial evaluation of a minimal structured psycho-educational intervention for children and adolescents with epilepsy. The intervention aimed at increasing the understanding and personal control (self-management) of epilepsy, and at reducing psychological distress, sleep problems and somatic complaints. METHOD: Twelve patients participated in our intervention and another 12, matched on age and gender, served as the control group. Data were obtained at baseline (prior to the intervention) and 3 months later in the context of an interview based on several validated questionnaires. The intervention was limited to one 4-h session using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques, relaxation techniques, video and storytelling. Effects of the intervention on primary and secondary outcomes were examined using 2 (baseline, T1 vs. post-treatment, T2)×2 (intervention vs. control) mixed model repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for epilepsy severity. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that over the three months of the study, significant main effects (group x time) were observed on coherence (F(1,21)=6.12; p=0.02) with important changes in favour of the intervention group. Significant main effects were also observed on psychological distress levels (F(1,21)=10.08; p=0.005) and sleep problems (F(1,21)=11.40; p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that a brief self-regulation-based intervention may have beneficial effects for children and adolescents suffering from epilepsy by inciting improvements in coherence, psychological distress and sleep problems.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the development and initial evaluation of a minimal structured psycho-educational intervention for children and adolescents with epilepsy. The intervention aimed at increasing the understanding and personal control (self-management) of epilepsy, and at reducing psychological distress, sleep problems and somatic complaints. METHOD: Twelve patients participated in our intervention and another 12, matched on age and gender, served as the control group. Data were obtained at baseline (prior to the intervention) and 3 months later in the context of an interview based on several validated questionnaires. The intervention was limited to one 4-h session using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques, relaxation techniques, video and storytelling. Effects of the intervention on primary and secondary outcomes were examined using 2 (baseline, T1 vs. post-treatment, T2)×2 (intervention vs. control) mixed model repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), controlling for epilepsy severity. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that over the three months of the study, significant main effects (group x time) were observed on coherence (F(1,21)=6.12; p=0.02) with important changes in favour of the intervention group. Significant main effects were also observed on psychological distress levels (F(1,21)=10.08; p=0.005) and sleep problems (F(1,21)=11.40; p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that a brief self-regulation-based intervention may have beneficial effects for children and adolescents suffering from epilepsy by inciting improvements in coherence, psychological distress and sleep problems.