[Changes of coping strategies in patients with therapy refractory epilepsy in the course of a ward based treatment with a holistic therapeutic approach].

In this study we examined whether individual coping strategies improve in the course of a ward based treatment with a holistic therapeutic approach. An increase in problem-focussed coping and a decrease in emotion-focussed coping or avoidance-oriented coping were considered as improvement. As a part of a comprehensive therapy monitoring 65 patients with therapy refractory epilepsy were studied with the Freiburg Questionnaire of coping with Illness (FKV) on the day after admittance to a specialized epilepsy ward. A second investigation with the FKV was performed on the day before discharge. A decrease in depressive coping and cognitive avoidance and an increase in problem focussed coping could be documented. These changes could not be interpreted as an effect of better seizure control or antidepressive drugs. This may be a hint for the efficacy of a holistic treatment approach to increase the patient's resources for a successful psychosocial adjustment to therapy refractory epilepsy.