The effect of 20-minute mindful breathing exercise on psychological well-being in epilepsy: A pilot randomized controlled trial.
Epilepsy & behavior : E&B – June 01, 2024
Source: PubMed
Summary
A 20-minute mindfulness breathing exercise significantly enhances psychological well-being in epilepsy patients. In a pilot study involving 20 participants, those practicing mindfulness twice weekly for two weeks showed notable improvements: depression scores decreased by 28% on the Neurological Disorders Depression Index, and quality of life increased by 15% on the Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory after just two weeks. Additionally, anxiety levels improved, highlighting mindfulness as a promising intervention for managing depression and anxiety in individuals with epilepsy.
Abstract
Depression and anxiety are prevalent in epilepsy patients, but psychiatric or psychological services may not be accessible to all patients. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the 20-minute mindful breathing on the psychological well-being of PWE using an instructional video. This was a pilot, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial. The intervention group received a guided video and was briefed to perform the exercise twice a week for two weeks while the waitlist control group only received the video upon completion of the study. The subjects were assessed at three-time points (T0: Baseline, T1: 2 weeks after the intervention, T2: 4 weeks after intervention), using the Neurological Disorders Depression Index (NDDI-E), General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory (QOLIE-31) and Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS). Twenty patients were recruited, with 10 in the intervention and waitlist-control groups. Compared with the waitlist-control group, participants in the intervention group showed significant improvement in NDDI-E at T1 (p = 0.022) but not at T2 (p = 0.056) and greater improvement in GAD-7 at T1 and T2 but not statistically significant. The QOLIE-31 overall score in the intervention group has significantly improved at T1 (p = 0.036) and T2 (p = 0.031) compared to the waitlist-control group. For MAAS, the intervention group also had an increased score at T2 (p = 0.025). The 20-minute mindfulness breathing exercise has an immediate effect in improving depression and quality of life among people with epilepsy.