Effect of progressive relaxation technique in reducing epileptic seizures among adolescents

Abstract

Epilepsy is a serious and a common neurological condition of which the medical, psychological and social implications are far-reaching and there is still a paucity of research in the psychology and social issues in epilepsy. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of progressive relaxation technique in reducing epileptic seizures among adolescents. The study was carried out on a convenience sample of 28 secondary school students attending the school health insurance center Beni-Suef city using a quasi-experimental design with pre-post assessment. Data collection tools included an interview questionnaire for the personal and disease characteristics; stress level was assessed using Cohen's (1994) 10-question tool. After a pretest, the researchers trained the participants in applying a stress management exercise, and asked them to practice it at home and to document the frequency and duration of daily practice using a diary for eight weeks. The post-intervention stress level was assessed using the same tool. The results revealed statistically significant changes in all ten items of the stress scale, with a median post-pre total difference of -0.3 (p < .001). The number of seizures decreased from a median of 3/week to one seizure in the last four weeks of follow-up (p < .001). A statistically significant weak negative correlation was found between the frequency of seizures and the number of progressive relaxation techniques practiced. The study findings indicate the effectiveness of a simple technique in improving the life of adolescents having epilepsy. However, the small sample size could not show the correlation between the practice of this relaxation technique and the frequency of the seizures. A randomized controlled clinical trial is recommended to confirm the findings.