Effects of a broad-spectrum behavioral medicine treatment program on children with refractory epileptic seizures: an 8-year follow-up

Epilepsia. 1992 Jan-Feb;33(1):98-102. doi: 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1992.tb02289.x.

Abstract

We present an 8 year follow-up on a group of children with refractory epileptic seizures who participated in the early 1980s in a controlled group study on the effects of a broad-spectrum behavior modification treatment program on children with refractory epileptic seizures. In the original study, 18 children were divided into three groups: behavior modification group, attention control group, and control group. The purpose was to investigate the effects of a learning-based treatment program superimposed on a regular medical treatment program. Also, the effects of professional attention were evaluated. At the 10 week and 1 year follow-ups, only the group receiving the behavior modification intervention had a significantly reduced rate of seizure index. The present study investigates these same children 8 years later using the same methods of investigation for an additional 10 week period. The results indicate that a significant reduction in seizures was obtained only for the behavior modification group at the 8 year follow-up.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anticonvulsants / therapeutic use
  • Behavior Therapy*
  • Child
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Epilepsy / drug therapy
  • Epilepsy / therapy*
  • Epilepsy, Complex Partial / drug therapy
  • Epilepsy, Complex Partial / therapy
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Records

Substances

  • Anticonvulsants