Mental Health: Epilepsy: HC investigates meditation techniques to control seizures

Meditation and nature sounds can be allies for people with epilepsy. To assess the benefits of these techniques on the quality of life of patients, the Projepsi (Epilepsy and Psychiatry Project) of the IPq-HCFMUSP (Institute of Psychiatry, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo) seeks patients with the condition for be part of a survey.

To participate, you must be between 18 and 65 years old and have a diagnosis of epilepsy. Interested parties must fill out a questionnaire on the Ipq website and will be forwarded for screening. The treatment consists of two 20-minute sessions a day for three months, which will be done from home using a digital platform. However, you will need to go to the institute for evaluations and collection of requested exams. The research is free and has financial support from the Mahle Institute.

Leandro Valiengo, psychiatrist and study coordinator, explains that the same techniques have already been used in international trials and have shown good results against seizures, anxiety, stress and insomnia.

“Sounds can lower chronic stress levels by reducing the hyperactivation of the sympathetic system, also called fight and flight, and increasing parasympathetic activity, which is the relaxation system,” says Valiengo.

Drug treatment against seizures should be maintained during the research. “The objective is to evaluate the effect of these as supporting agents”, says the psychiatrist.

Epilepsy is a syndrome characterized by epileptic seizures that recur at variable intervals. It can have different causes, such as metabolic changes, cerebrovascular diseases, tumors and trauma. The patient may have seizures, muscle stiffness, involuntary automatic movements, absence seizures, among other symptoms.

IPq-HCFMUSP
Address road. Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, Cerqueira César, central São Paulo
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