Abstracts

Rationale: Depression occurs in up to 50% of patients with epilepsy and is inadequately treated during standard epilepsy care. Self-management has been used to address psychiatric comorbidities in the form of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as part of a group program called UPLIFT. We sought to implement this program at our Epilepsy Center to see if psychological and health benefits would result in our patients. Methods: Participants were recruited by soliciting referrals from health care providers at our epilepsy center. Information packages and assessment forms were sent to patients referred and those returning assessments were in invited to participate. Numbers of referrals, rates of response to participate, dropout rates, depression and anxiety scores, and verbal feedback were used in the assessment of the program. Results: Three eight week programs were carried out with four participants in each program. Between 30-50 percent of referrals who were sent assessments returned the completed forms. 50 percent of those returning forms participated with the lack of time and inconvenient schedule cited as reasons for non-participation  Approximately 1/3 dropped out during the program with some of those after first phone conference stating perception of  "poor fit ". 25-50% of participants completed two eight-week sessions and all participants indicated a desire to continue connecting after the eight-week program. Depression and anxiety scores tended to show improvement in those completing evaluations. All participants who completed program verbally indicated satisfaction and felt it was worthwhile. Conclusions: Self-management of depression in epilepsy can be implemented in epilepsy centers with some additional personnel time from individuals who have a mental health background. Lower recruitment rates of referred patients may be due to startup issues and initial lack of engagement and knowledge of providers and patients early on. Benefits were seen as evidenced by improvement in depression and anxiety scores as well as participants wanting to continue group meetings and enter into another eight-week program. Funding: None