Examining Psychological Group Interventions for Adult Epilepsy Patients: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Epilepsy significantly impacts health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
• Psychological interventions are established methods for improving HRQoL in various populations.
• Group-based psychological interventions offer a structured approach to address the multifaceted needs of individuals with epilepsy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review randomized controlled trials evaluating psychological group interventions for people living with epilepsy (PLWE).
• To assess the effectiveness of these interventions on quality of life (QoL), depression, and self-management.
• To explore the impact of intervention format (online vs. face-to-face) and control group type on outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of 10 randomized controlled studies published between 2000 and 2023.
• Inclusion criteria focused on PLWE aged 18 and over, receiving psychological group interventions.
• Outcome variables included QoL, depression, and self-management skills.

Main Results:

• Psychological group interventions demonstrated success in improving QoL (67%), reducing depression (50%), and enhancing self-management (100%).
• Significant gains were observed in active control groups, indicating benefits beyond specific intervention content.
• Online and face-to-face interventions yielded comparable positive results.

Conclusions:

• Psychological group interventions are effective in improving various outcomes for adults with epilepsy.
• The group setting itself, irrespective of specific content, contributes to enhanced QoL for PLWE.
• Both online and traditional delivery methods are viable for delivering effective psychological support to this population.