The following article stores probable means to help adults with epilepsy. A latest study claims that telephone and Internet-delivered mindfulness – based depression treatment can tremendously decrease depressive symptoms in adults with epilepsy. The treatment supposedly involves eight, hour-long sessions aimed to boost knowledge about depression, epilepsy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness.
The Using Practice and Learning to Increase Favorable Thoughts (UPLIFT) treatment is a home-based depression prevention and treatment program. The treatment is designed for group delivery though the phone or Web on the basis of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, the weekly program. It includes eight, hour-long sessions for improving knowledge about depression, epilepsy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. 40 volunteers were selected to participate in the intervention or waitlist groups. After eight weeks and again on completion of 16 weeks, depressive symptoms and other outcomes were measured at baseline. A reduction of depressive symptoms among 64 percent in the intervention group and 15 percent in the waitlist group was registered.
No dramatic variation in results between participants provided with the intervention by telephone or Internet appeared. Nancy Thompson, PhD, associate professor of behavioral science and health education at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health, lead author of the study and colleagues believe that UPLIFT intervention is useful for enlightening people about epilepsy. Knowledge about this disorder seems to be crucial because many epilepsy patients apparently feel depressed, isolated and stigmatized. Further investigations of the UPLIFT program will be initiated on populations at risk of depression like caregivers or persons with disabilities that benefit from a home-based treatment.
The study is published in the November 2010 issue of Epilepsy and Behavior.