Epilepsy Journey 2.0: An Intervention to Improve Executive Functioning in Adolescents With Epilepsy
Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati
Summary
The goal of this multi-site clinical trial is to determine the effectiveness of two components of a web-based intervention (Epilepsy Journey) to improve executive functioning in adolescents with epilepsy. The two components include web-based modules and problem-solving telehealth sessions with a therapist focused on executive functioning. This trial aims to answer the following questions: 1. Which components of Epilepsy Journey (web-based modules or telehealth sessions with a therapist) are essential for improving executive functioning in adolescents with epilepsy? 2. Which components of Epilepsy Journey (web-based modules or telehealth sessions with a therapist) are essential for improving quality of life in adolescents with epilepsy? Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: 1) Epilepsy Journey web-based modules and telehealth sessions, 2) Epilepsy Journey web-based modules only, 3) telehealth sessions with a therapist only, or 4) treatment as usual. Participants will: * Independently review Epilepsy Journey web-based modules focused on executive functioning skills (\~15-30 minutes) and/or have weekly telehealth sessions (\~30-45 minutes) with a therapist for 14 weeks. * Complete measures of executive functioning (parent and teen-report) and quality of life (teen-report) at the start of the study, 14-, 26-, and 66- weeks after randomization. The NIH toolbox will be completed at the start of the study and 26-weeks after randomization. Additional measures will also be collected.
Description
Epilepsy is a common pediatric neurological condition affecting \~470,000 youth in the United States. Adolescents with epilepsy are at significant risk for neurobehavioral comorbidities (i.e., depressive/behavioral symptoms) and suboptimal social, academic, and quality of life outcomes. Research suggests that deficits in executive functioning (EF), defined as the skills necessary for goal-directed and complex activities, including problem-solving, initiation, monitoring, organization, planning, self-regulation and working memory, contribute to suboptimal functioning. EF deficits have been docu…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 13–17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age between 13-17 years at the time of enrollment 2. Child lives at home with primary caregiver and is enrolled in school (excluding summer breaks). 3. Confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy with seizures that are categorized as either generalized or focal in onset. Epilepsy is defined as: 1) At least two unprovoked seizures occurring more than 24-hours apart; or 2) One unprovoked seizure and a probability of further seizures similar to the general recurrence risk after two unprovoked seizures. 4. Primary language of English 5. Screening Inclusion: On the parent-reported Behav…
Interventions
- BehavioralEpilepsy Journey web-based modules
Participants assigned to Epilepsy Journey modules will independently review web-based EJ modules focused on executive functioning skills. The modules cover 10 topic areas: Positive Thoughts, Problem-Solving, Initiation, Working Memory, Monitoring, Inhibition, Emotional Control, Organization and Planning, Sleep/Stress, and a Wrap-Up. Participants will complete 10 modules (\~15-30 minutes each session) within a 14-week time frame. The goal is to complete one module per week.
- BehavioralTelehealth with a therapist
Therapist will cover 10 areas of executive functioning during telehealth sessions, including Positive Thoughts, Problem-Solving, Initiation, Working Memory, Monitoring, Inhibition, Emotional Control, Organization and Planning, Sleep/Stress, and a Wrap-Up. Telehealth sessions with a therapist will occur via HIPAA-compliant videoconference (e.g. Microsoft Teams) each week ideally over the course of 14 weeks.
Locations (3)
- Childrens Hospital of Orange CountyOrange, California
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterCincinnati, Ohio
- Medical University of South CarolinaCharleston, South Carolina