To test the hypotheses that EMDR therapy will significantly (1) reduce anxiety in persons with epilepsy-related anxiety symptoms, from pre-treatment to post-treatment, (2) reduce seizure frequency and severity and will (3) improve quality of life…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Cranial nerve disorders (excl neoplasms)
- Anxiety disorders and symptoms
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The main outcome measure is level of anxiety, which will be assessed by several
questionnaires at three time points, i.e., before treatment, directly after
treatment and 3 months after treatment, and self-reported anxiety based on the
diary on a weekly basis.
Secondary outcome
The secondary outcome measures are quality of life, subjective cognitive
complaints and seizure frequency and severity, which will be administered at
three time points, i.e. before treatment, directly after treatment and 3 months
after treatment, and seizure frequency in the past four weeks based on the
diary on a weekly basis.
Background summary
Anxiety disorders are present in about 20-27% of people with epilepsy (PWE).
The unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of epilepsy often results in
anxiety symptoms, which may provoke new seizures. Psychological interventions
may be beneficial to break this vicious cycle. The current study aims to
investigate the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
(EMDR) therapy in reducing epilepsy-related anxiety symptoms. Due to the
adverse impact of anxiety on seizure occurrence, health-related quality life
and on cognitive complaints it is of interest to study whether EMDR therapy and
the expected reduction of anxiety will also reduce seizure frequency and
severity and improve quality of life and subjective cognitive functioning.
Study objective
To test the hypotheses that EMDR therapy will significantly (1) reduce anxiety
in persons with epilepsy-related anxiety symptoms, from pre-treatment to
post-treatment, (2) reduce seizure frequency and severity and will (3) improve
quality of life and subjective cognitive functioning in persons with
epilepsy-related anxiety symptoms.
Study design
A cohort study with repeated measures (before treatment, directly after
treatment, and 3 months after treatment).
Intervention
EMDR therapy is a standardized psychological treatment, that will be delivered
by licensed and experienced therapists during weekly sessions.
Study burden and risks
There is a minimal risk of a (temporary) increase in seizure frequency as
therapy requires participants to actively confront their worst disaster
fantasy. This could be a trigger for seizures for some PWE. The participants
will be informed, and in case of a seizure occurring during therapy, the
subject and therapist will decide whether the session can continue. If the
participant feels that the sessions are too burdensome, he or she can withdraw
from the study at any time. PWE are expected to benefit from study
participation in terms of reduced levels of anxiety. The reduced anxiety and
stress level may result in decreased seizure frequency and severity, as well as
improvement of quality of life and subjective cognitive functioning.
Achterweg 3
Heemstede 2103 sw
NL
Achterweg 3
Heemstede 2103 sw
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
- diagnosis of definite epilepsy (ILAE)
- HADS anxiety sub score >=8 at the following three time points: at referral to
the psychology department, during the interview at the psychology department
and just before start of the treatment.
- epilepsy-related anxiety symptoms operationalized as having a seizure-related
disaster fantasy (flashforward from the EMDR protocol)
- 18 years or older
Exclusion criteria
- The presence of psychological symptoms other than anxiety in more urgent need
of treatment (e.g. suicidal intent/acts or acute psychosis)
- Not able to read/write and communicate in the Dutch language
- Currently receiving another form of psychological treatment
- Presence of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures
- Presence of neurodegenerative disorders
- Estimated IQ <80
- Epilepsy surgery within the last year
- The use of benzodiazepines, unless subscribed as an anti-epileptic drug
(AED)
- HADS anxiety sub score <8 during one or more of the three time points: at
referral to the psychology department, during the interview at the psychology
department and just before start of the treatment.
Design
Recruitment
metc-ldd@lumc.nl
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL80250.058.22 |