Effects of a Contingent Relaxation Treatment Program on Adults with Refractory Epileptic Seizures

Summary: A group of eighteen adults with refractory epileptic seizures were given psychological treatment in a two‐phase experimental group study. In phase one, the experimental phase, the patients were divided into three groups–contingent relaxation (CR), attention control (ATC) treatment, and a no‐treatment (NT) control group–with the purpose of investigating the effects of a learning‐based contingent relaxation program compared with the effects of professional attention alone when superimposed on a regular medical treatment program. The design of the experimental phase was comprised of a 10‐week baseline, 6‐week intervention, and 10‐week follow‐up. Results of this phase at the end of follow‐up showed a significant reduction only for those patients receiving the CR treatment. In the nonexperimental phase, the two control groups also received the CR treatment for a 6‐week period, and subsequent seizure frequency measures for all three groups were analyzed after 10‐week and 30‐week follow‐up periods. Results of this phase showed a significant reduction in seizure frequency for all three groups after receiving the CR treatment. Effects of the CR treatment were maintained at a 30‐week follow‐up. The results indicate that the CR treatment program may be of substantial help to adults whose seizures are resistant to conventional drug therapy.

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