A Pilot Study of Creative Arts Interventions for Neurology Inpatients

A Pilot Study of Creative Arts Interventions for Neurology Inpatients in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit and the Headache Service

The purpose of the study is to assess the feasibility of a Creative Artists Program intervention with epilepsy and headache patients admitted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for care by the Department of Neurology.

Qualifying patients admitted to Epilepsy monitoring or Headache treatment will be approached for participation in the study. Patients who consent to the study will be given a chance to work with one of three creative artists (visual artist, creative writer, therapeutic musician). The artist will be selected according to a pre-determined schedule, and the arts intervention may last up to 90 minutes. Subjects will be asked to complete study questionnaires before and after the arts intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age > or = 18 years
2. Diagnosis of refractory chronic epilepsy, status migrainosus, or chronic daily headache
3. Elective admission to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Epilepsy monitoring unit or Headache service
4. Capable of giving informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active psychiatric illness that prohibits safe visitation by artists
2. Impairment of vision or hearing that would prohibit able to participate with participation in instructions necessary for the interventions.
3. Active general medical condition that would impair consciousness.