Effectiveness of meditation in the management of epilepsy: An updated mini systematic review of recent findings.
Moirangthem Joychand Singh, Sunil Singh Yadav, Sangeeth Somanadhapai, Massimiliano Buoli
Complementary therapies in medicine June 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2026.103351 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMeditation-based interventions for people with epilepsy show promise for improving depression, anxiety, concentration, and quality of life. Neurophysiological changes include modulation of gamma power, beta burst duration, and interictal epileptiform discharges, suggesting a potential stabilizing effect on neural networks. However, evidence for reducing seizure frequency is inconsistent and generally not statistically significant. The review included five studies: two randomized controlled trials, two open-label studies, and one case report. Meditation appears to be a promising adjunctive therapy for psychological well-being and possibly cortical excitability, but well-powered randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols and longer follow-up are needed to confirm effects on seizure control.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Systematic review Randomized Open-label Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 5 |
| Population | People with epilepsy |
| Intervention | meditation-based interventions |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Epilepsy Neurophysiology Quality of life |
| Key finding | Meditation-based interventions improve psychological well-being and modulate neurophysiological markers of cortical excitability in people with epilepsy, but evidence for seizure frequency reduction is inconsistent and not statistically significant. |
Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by altered cortical excitability. The disorder is often associated with psychological distress and reduced quality of life. The purpose of the present review is to critically summarize the evidence on the effectiveness of meditation-based interventions for people with epilepsy. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published in English between January 2020 and May 2025. Five studies met the inclusion criteria (two randomized controlled trials, two open-label studies and one case report). Most studies reported significant improvements in depression, anxiety, concentration and quality of life following meditation interventions. Neurophysiological investigations demonstrated modulation of gamma power, beta burst duration, and interictal epileptiform discharges, suggesting a potential stabilizing effect on neural networks. However, evidence regarding seizure frequency reduction was inconsistent and generally not statistically significant. Meditation appears to be a promising adjunctive therapy for improving psychological well-being and potentially modulating cortical excitability in epilepsy. Future well-powered randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols and longer follow-up are warranted to confirm these findings and explore effects on seizure control.