refractory epilepsy
Research Papers
Z-score LORETA Neurofeedback as a Potential Therapy for Patients with Seizures and Refractory Epilepsy
Approximately 30 % of epilepsy patients are resistant to conventional medical therapy. Therefore, alternative forms of treatment are needed to improve efficiency of these therapeutic regimens. Neurofeedback (NFB) has been becoming recognized as one of the promising therapies improving control of medically refractory epilepsy cases. This multi-case paper describes our experience with LORETA Z-score NFB as a tool for control of patients with seizures.
View Full Paper →Cognitive Function During Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Treatment-Refractory Epilepsy: A Pilot Study Using the Critical Flicker Fusion Test
This pilot study assessed neuro-cognitive functioning in 7 adults treated with Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) for refractory epilepsy over a 12-month period. All patients were assessed using the Critical Flicker Fusion (CFF) test, a sensitive measure of the ability of the central nervous system to discriminate items of sensory information, along with a standardized battery of neuropsychological and behavioral measures. Reduction in seizure frequency and psychiatric ratings was accompanied by a selective but significant (p < .05) improvement in CFF performance. These findings suggest that the CFF test could be a useful indicator of improvement in neurocognitive functioning during VNS.
View Full Paper →Biofeedback treatment in patients with refractory epilepsy: Changes in depression and control orientation
Depression is a common and serious interictal problem in patients with epilepsy. The genesis of depressive disorders is multifactorial. One aetiological aspect focuses on psychosocial factors. It was hypothesized that uncontrollable, unpredictable chronic aversive events (i.e. epileptic seizures) result in cognitive deficits ofexternal control orientation. If this is true, biofeedback training could represent a possible treatment strategy to lower depression, because biofeedback is known to mediate success experiences and control. Measures of depression and locus of control were administered to 20 patients with refractory partial epilepsy before and after biofeedback treatment. The biofeedback consisted of slow cortical potentials or breathing parameters in 10 patients each. A clear relationship occurred between depression and locus of control in the subjects. After biofeedback training control orientation moved towards a more internal locus of control. Also, depression scores were significantly reduced six months after training. Results show that in patients with refractory epilepsy depression is highly correlated with locus of control, in a way that external control orientation relates to high depression scores. Biofeedback is able to improve internal control orientation through personal success mediation.
View Full Paper →Modification of Slow Cortical Potentials in Patients with Refractory Epilepsy: A Controlled Outcome Study
Summary: Purpose: To compare self-regulation of low-frequency EEG components (slow cortical potentials, SCPs) with other methods of seizure control for patients with drug-refractory partial epilepsy and to separate the real anticonvulsive effect from placebo effects. Methods: Results of a treatment program of SCP self-regulation (experimental group) are compared with two groups of patients, one of which learned self-control of respiratory parameters (end-tidal CO2 and respiration rate: RES group); the other received medication with new anticonvulsive drugs (AEDs) in combination with psychosocial counseling (MED group). Clinical, cognitive, behavioral, and personality measures were assessed before and after treatment. In addition, to control for placebo responses, patients repeatedly estimated their beliefs in the efficiency of the respective treatment, their satisfaction and expectations, and the quality of the relationship with their therapists. Results: SCP and MED groups showed a significant decrease of seizure frequency, but the RES group did not. Clear positive changes in the sociopsychological adjustment were obtained in all three groups, with the maximal improvement being attained in the RES group. Conclusions: All kinds of therapy result in considerable improvement of patients' emotional state, which may in part be due to potential placebo effects; however, this improvement is not related to the quality of the therapeutic effect proper (i.e., seizure reduction). Traditional double-blind control group designs are inappropriate for behavioral interventions or treatments with psychoactive pharmacologic drugs. Rather, specific tests can be developed to control the placebo effect and to separate it from the genuine therapeutic effects.
View Full Paper →Ready to Optimize Your Brain?
Schedule a free consultation to discuss refractory epilepsy and how neurofeedback training can help
Or call us directly at 855-88-BRAIN
View Programs & Pricing →