Abstracts

Rationale: Depression and anxiety affect 20-30% of patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy patients undergoing long-term video-EEG (LTVEEG) often experience additional anxiety. Previous studies have shown that mind-body therapies using art and music improve well-being by reducing stress, depression and anxiety, and enhance quality of life. Qualitative and anecdotal research suggest that exposure to the creative arts dramatically improves the lives of persons affected by epilepsy Methods: Prospective, randomized, two arms-parallel trial. Patients in the intervention arm received an art intervention such as painting, drawing, sculpture work or beads during LTVEEG monitoring. This activity, performed once during monitoring, lasted an average of two hours. Control subjects were given an entertainment magazine to read. Outcome measures included Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) completed before and after the activity. Statistical analysis was done using the paired and Student’s t-tests Results: 50 patients were enrolled, 38 in the active intervention arm (66% females, mean age 39.2) and 12 control subjects (75% females, mean age 39.2). Mean baseline and post-intervention BDI scores were 18.53 and 11.82 for the intervention group and 18.67 and 16.75 for the controls (p=.000x). Mean baseline and post-intervention BAI scores were 18.76 and 9.00 for the intervention group and 19.75 and 14.92 for the controls (p=.000x). There was no statistically significant differences in depression scores before and after intervention in the control arm (p=.318); however, there was a statistically significant reduction in anxiety pre-and post-BAI (p=0.007). Conclusions: This pilot study shows that participation in a creative art activity during LTVEEG monitoring significantly reduces depression and anxiety