Low levels of mindfulness in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit

Recent studies have shown that mindfulness therapy and attention tasks may benefit patients with seizure disorders. However, there is limited research on levels of mindfulness and electroencephalogram (EEG) power during a mindfulness task in these patients. This study evaluated levels of mindfulness in patients admitted to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) and its relationship with EEG power during a mindfulness task.

71 Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) patients completed a validated mindfulness questionnaire (the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire) and consented to participate in a standard 10-minute mindfulness task while scalp EEG was being recorded. Participants were then asked 6 questions about their experience with mindfulness and any prior or current diagnoses of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Mindfulness scores were analyzed based on EMU diagnosis and also compared to historical healthy controls.

Overall mindfulness scores of EMU patients were lower than those reported in historical healthy control samples. Patients with epilepsy and patients with functional seizures both exhibited lower scores in the "Acting with Awareness" and "Describing" facets of mindfulness relative to these controls. Within the EMU cohort, no significant differences were found in the total and sub-domain mindfulness scores between patients with epilepsy and patients with functional seizures. Relative alpha power (8-9 Hz) was significantly greater in the right frontocentral region (F4) in the high-mindfulness group compared with the low-mindfulness group.

Overall mindfulness levels of EMU patients were lower than described in historical healthy controls, and higher mindfulness levels were associated with greater alpha power within the frontoparietal attention network during a mindfulness task.