Acceptance and commitment therapy for depression in adolescents with epilepsy

Abstract

Background: Adolescents with epilepsy are at increased risk of depression. One psychological intervention with a growing evidence base in physical health populations is acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), yet its effectiveness on depression in adolescents with epilepsy has not yet been investigated.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an ACT-based group intervention in reducing symptoms of depression in adolescents with epilepsy. It also aimed to assess if any reductions in depression were maintained at six-month follow-up.

Methods: Eighteen adolescents (aged 13-17-years-old) with epilepsy completed an eight-session ACT group intervention. Adolescents completed the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy - Youth (NDDI-E-Y) pre-ACT, post-ACT, and at six-month follow-up.

Results: Significant pre- to post-ACT reductions were found in symptoms of depression. At post-ACT and six-month follow-up, 77.8 % of adolescents no longer met clinical threshold for depression. Such effects were maintained at six-month follow-up.

Clinical implications: This study offers preliminary evidence indicating that ACT may be beneficial for addressing depression in adolescents with epilepsy. However, given the study limitations, these findings should be interpreted with caution, and further rigorous intervention research is required to strengthen the evidence base and guide the development of evidence-informed care pathways for this population.

Keywords: Acceptance and commitment therapy; Adolescents; Depression; Epilepsy.