Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T06:05:20.177Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Behavioural Approach to the Treatment of Epilepsy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2009

A. Lavender
A. Lavender
Affiliation:
Bexley Hospital, Kent
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Recently a number of studies have reported successfully reducing seizure frequency by interrupting preseizure behaviour and by manipulating the consequences of a seizure. A small research project was set up to overcome some of the methodological problems of earlier studies and to evaluate such a treatment approach with four children. Treatment involved helping the children to develop means of controlling their seizures, and included a system of rewards for seizure-free periods so as to motivate the children to use their method of control. The results indicated that the treatment was successful in two out of four children. On the basis of these results some suggestions as to the mechanisms involved and the place of such an approach in the management of epilepsy are offered.

Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , July 1981 , pp. 231 - 243
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 1981

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Balaschak, B. A. (1976). Teacher implemented behaviour modification in a case of organically based epilepsy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 44, 218–223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daniels, B. K. (1974). Treatment of grand mal epilepsy by covert conditioning techniques: a case study. Psychosomatics 16, 65–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Efron, R. (1957). The conditioned inhibition of ucinate fits. Brain 80, 251–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feldman, R. G. and Paul, N. L. (1976). Identity of emotional triggers in epilepsy. Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases 162, 345–353.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Finley, W. W. (1977). Operant conditioning of E.E.G. in two patients with epilepsy: methodological and clinical considerations. Pavlovian Journal of Biological Science 12, 93–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flannery, R. B. and Cautela, , (1973). Seizures: controlling the uncontrollable. Journal of Rehabilitation 39, 34–36.Google Scholar
Forster, F. M. (1975). Reading epilepsy, musicogenic epilepsy and related disorders. In Progress in Learning Disabilities, Mykloburst, H. R. (Ed.), New York: Grune and Stratton. pp. 161–177.Google Scholar
Gardner, J. E. (1967). Behaviour therapy treatment approach to a psychogenic seizure case. Journal of Consulting Psychology 31, 209–212.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gowers, W. R. (1881). Epilepsy and Other Chronic Convulsive Diseases, London.Google Scholar
Ince, L. P. (1976). Use of relaxation training and a conditioned reflex in elimination of epileptic seizures in child: a case study. Journal of Behaviour Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 7, 247–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Iwata, B. A. and Lorentzson, A. M. (1976). Operant control of seizure-like behaviour in an institutionalized retarded adult. Behaviour Therapy 7, 247–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, R. R., Vaught, R. S. and Weinrott, M. (1977). Time series analysis in operant research. Journal of Applied Behaviour Analysis 10, 15–166.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
King, R. D., Raynes, N. V. and Tizard, J. (1971). Patterns of Residential Care. Sociological Studies in Institutions for Handicapped Children, London: Routeledge.Google Scholar
Lavender, A. (1979). A behavioural approach to the treatment of epilepsy. M. Phil. London: Institute of Psychiatry.Google Scholar
Lennox, W. G. and Lennox, M. A. (1960). Epilepsy and Related Disorders, Boston: Little, Brown and Company.Google Scholar
Levine, B. A. (1978). The use of a self administered gustatory stimulus in the elimination of a seizure disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy 9, 77–79.Google Scholar
Lubar, J. F. (1977). Electroencephalographic biofeedback methodology and the management of epilepsy. Pavlovian Journal of Biological Science 12, 147–185.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lysons, D. (1772). Practical Essays on Intermitting Fevers, Bath.Google Scholar
Mostofsky, D. I. and Balaschak, B. A. (1977). Psychobiological control of seizures. Psychological Bulletin 84, 723–750.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Parrino, J. J. (1971). Reduction of seizures by desensitization. Journal of Behaviour Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 2, 215–218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richardson, R. A. (1972). Environmental contingencies in seizure disorders.Paper presented at the meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behaviour Therapy,New York.Google Scholar
Standage, K. F. (1972). Treatment of epilepsy by reciprocal inhibition of anxiety. Guys Hospital Reports 21, 217.Google Scholar
Sterman, M. B. (1977). Clinical implications of E.E.G. training—a clinical appraisal. In Biofeedback Therapy and Research, Schwartz, C. E. and Beaty, J. (Eds), New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Sterman, M. B. and MacDonald, L. B. (1978). Effects of central cortical E.E.G. feedback training on the incidence of poorly controlled seizures. Epilepsia 19, 207–222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stores, G. (1975). Behavioural effects of anti-epileptic drugs. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 17, 647–648.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stores, G. (1978). School children with epilepsy at risk for learning and behaviour problems. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 20, 502–508.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Symonds, C. (1961). Some observations on the facilitation or arrest of epileptic seizures. In Studies in Neurology (1970). Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Wells, K. C., Turner, S. M., Bellack, A. S. and Hersen, M. (1978). Effects of cue controlled relaxation on psychomotor seizures: an experimental analysis. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 16, 51–53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wright, L. (1973). Aversive conditioning of self induced seizures. Behaviour Therapy 4, 712–713.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, L. (1976). Psychology as a health profession. Clinical Psychologist 29, 16–19.Google Scholar
Zlutnick, S. I. (1972). The control of seizures by the modification of pre-seizure behaviour: the punishment of behaviour chain components. Ph.D. Utah State College. Dissertation Abstracts International 33 (6B). University Microfilms, pp. 72–73, 182.Google Scholar
Zlutnick, S. I., Mayville, W. J. and Moffat, S. (1975). Modification of seizure disorders: the interruption of behaviour chains. Journal of Applied Behavioural Analysis 8, 1–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.