A Pilot Study of Creative Arts Interventions for Neurology Inpatients

Qualifying patients admitted to Epilepsy monitoring or Headache treatment will be approached
for participation in the study. Patients who consent to the study will be given a chance to
work with one of three creative artists (visual artist, creative writer, therapeutic
musician). The artist will be selected according to a pre-determined schedule, and the arts
intervention may last up to 90 minutes. Subjects will be asked to complete study
questionnaires before and after the arts intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age > or = 18 years

2. Diagnosis of refractory chronic epilepsy, status migrainosus, or chronic daily
headache

3. Elective admission to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Epilepsy monitoring unit
or Headache service

4. Capable of giving informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active psychiatric illness that prohibits safe visitation by artists

2. Impairment of vision or hearing that would prohibit able to participate with
participation in instructions necessary for the interventions.

3. Active general medical condition that would impair consciousness.