PhD defence V.J. (Valérie ) van Hezik-Wester

Brief summary of the doctoral thesis:

Seizure dogs are currently not reimbursed by health insurance because there is insufficient evidence of what a seizure dog can mean for the health of a person with epilepsy. The EPISODE study was commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport to gather information that could be used for a reimbursement decision.

The study lasted for three years and collected information from 25 individuals with severe epilepsy. These participants were first followed for a period without a seizure dog, and then each one was paired with a seizure dog one by one. During the study, participants kept track of their epileptic seizures daily in a diary, and a questionnaire was completed every three months. By comparing the information from the period without a seizure dog to the period with a seizure dog, conclusions could be drawn about the effects of the dog.

The research revealed that, on average, the number of seizures experienced by participants decreased after they received the seizure dog. The quality of life of participants and their caregivers also improved. However, the severity of the seizures did not change. The health benefits of the dog, measured in terms of quality of life, are in good proportion to the costs of the dog (cost-effective). This is partly because healthcare costs were saved elsewhere, and participants became less dependent on caregiving. However, not all adults with severe epilepsy benefit equally from the seizure dog, as indicated by a wide variation in outcomes, mixed experiences, and a high number of discontinuations of seizure dog programs.