36 Impact of Neuropsychological Performance and Anxiety on Meditation in Drug Resistant Epilepsy (DRE) Patients Implanted with a Responsive Neurostimulation (RNS) Device
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society November 1, 2023 Adam E. Saad, Lea Tortelero, Sloane Sheldon et al. 1 citation
In patients with drug-resistant epilepsy who have a responsive neurostimulation (RNS) device implanted, a meditation protocol reduced anxiety symptoms. Ten patients completed loving-kindness and focal awareness meditation sessions while intracranial recordings were taken. Pre-surgery neuropsychological tests showed elevated anxiety and depression, with frontal or frontotemporal deficits in 80% of patients. A negative correlation was found between pre-meditation anxiety and self-reported depth of meditation engagement. Across all sessions, anxiety levels decreased after meditation. The findings suggest that meditation can help manage anxiety in this population, and integrating neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric evaluations may improve treatment.