Enhancing the wellness of caregivers of individuals with epilepsy: The effects of a brief stress management course.

Purpose: To determine whether a brief stress management video can improve the quality of life of caregivers of persons with epilepsy (PWE).

Methods: Thirty-three adult caregivers of PWE who scored 5 or higher on the Caregiver Self-Assessment Questionnaire (CSAQ) completed a 30-min stress management video. This was preceded by a pre-intervention assessment, followed by post-intervention assessment at 1 month, and a delayed post-intervention assessment evaluation 3 months after video was viewed. Measures of program acceptability were also obtained.

Results: There was significant improvement when comparing pre- and post-intervention CSAQ scores. This improvement was sustained at 3 months post intervention. Measures of program acceptability were favorable.

Conclusion: A brief stress management course can help improve the quality of life of caregivers of PWE.