Impact of coping-skills training on reducing tension in patients with epilepsy

Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent brain disorders affecting 0.5-1% of people in different societies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of coping skills training on reducing stress in patients with epilepsy. In this clinical trial study, 60 patients with epilepsy were selected randomly from a list of the members of Isfahan Epilepsy Association in the second half of 2011. The participants were divided into the experimental and control groups (n=30 in each group). The training and practice of stress management were conducted one two - hour session per week for eight weeks. Before and after the training and practice, Lazarus-Folkman coping questionnaire and Depression, Anxiety, Stress scale (DASS) were completed for both groups. The results showed that 60% and 53% of the cases were women in the experimental and control groups, respectively. The age of most respondents in the experimental (36.7%) and control (30%) groups was in the range of 18-24 years. Results revealed that coping skills training can reduce tension in patients with epilepsy (P<0.01). Moreover, coping skills training significantly affected all subscales of coping strategies scores except for avoidance, self-control and responsibility. Findings showed that coping skills training can be recommended as an add-on treatment plan in patients suffering from epilepsy.