Novakova, B., Harris, P.R., Rawlings, G.H. et al. (1 more author) (2019) Coping with stress: A pilot study of a self-help stress management intervention for patients with epileptic or psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. Epilepsy and Behavior , 94. pp. 169-177. ISSN 1525-5050
Abstract
Purpose: Many patients with epilepsy or psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) experience high levels of stress. Although psychological interventions have been developed for seizure disorders, few patients can currently access them. We aimed to assess the acceptability and feasibility of a self-help intervention targeting stress in patients with seizures, and to provide preliminary evidence for its effectiveness. Method: Patients were recruited from outpatient neurology clinics and randomized to an immediate intervention group (n = 39), who received the intervention at baseline, or a delayed intervention group (n = 43), who received the intervention one-month postbaseline. Participants completed self-report questionnaires measuring stress (Smith Stress Symptom Inventory [SSSI]), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale [GAD-7]), depression (Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy [NDDI-E]), quality of life (European Quality of Life - 5 Dimensions [EQ-5D]), and seizure severity and frequency (Liverpool Seizure Severity Scale [LSSS-3]) at baseline, and at one- and two-month follow-up. Participants also provided telephone feedback. The intervention consisted of a self-help stress management workbook based on an integrative stress model framework. Results: Although the rate of participants failing to return follow-up information at two months was approximately 50%, those who completed the trial found the intervention acceptable; with the majority rating it as helpful (63.6%) and that they would recommend it to others with seizures (88.1%). A significant reduction in self-reported stress (P = .01) with a medium effect size (dz = 0.51) was observed one-month postintervention. There were no significant changes in any other measures. Conclusion: The intervention was perceived to be acceptable, safe, and helpful by participants. It could be a useful complementary treatment option for reducing stress experienced by patients living with seizure disorders. Further evaluation in a larger trial is warranted.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 Elsevier. This is an author-produced version of a paper subsequently published in Epilepsy and Behavior. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. Article available under the terms of the CC-BY-NC-ND licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). |
Keywords: | Epilepsy; Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures; Stress; Self-help intervention; Self-affirmation |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Science (Sheffield) > Department of Psychology (Sheffield) The University of Sheffield > Sheffield Teaching Hospitals |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number RYDER BRIGGS NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH FUND NONE |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 08 May 2019 14:13 |
Last Modified: | 06 Apr 2020 00:40 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.03.002 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:145713 |
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