Mindfulness Meditation for Epilepsy: Effect of Mindfulness Meditation Practice on Quality of Life and EEG Activity in Refractory Epilepsy
Mindfulness Meditation for Epilepsy: Effect of Mindfulness Meditation Practice on Quality of Life and EEG Activity in Refractory Epilepsy
In one-third of epileptic patients treated in France, seizures persist despite drug treatment. These so-called "refractory" epilepsies are among the most severe. Only a minority of patients with refractory epilepsy can undergo surgery. The other options available are based on brain or vagus nerve stimulation interventions which clinical effectiveness is still being studied. Alternative therapies are needed both to decrease the frequency of patients' seizures and to improve their quality of life.
The practice of mindfulness meditation has recently been included in the recommendations of the International League Against Epilepsy in order to alleviate anxiety or depression comorbid symptoms.
This study falls within this framework by targeting two aspects of the pathology.
Through the development of standardized protocols, mindfulness meditation has been introduced as a complementary treatment to prevent the relapse of depression, and to reduce stress and improve well-being in many chronic conditions.
Epilepsy, which results from the activity of hyperexcitable circuits, is also associated with a disorganization of the physiological brain networks. Studies in cognitive neuroscience in healthy subjects suggest that meditation induces lasting changes in the physiological networks of attention and default mode and could potentially compensate for dysfunctions of these networks in epileptic patients.
Inclusion Criteria:
For patients :
For healthy subjects :
Exclusion Criteria:
For patients :
For healthy subjects :