Developing a writing intervention for patients with seizures
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing a writing intervention for patients with epilepsy and nonepileptic attack disorder
IRAS ID
172482
Contact name
Markus Reuber
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 30 days
Research summary
This study will investigate the health effects of a brief and time-limited writing intervention in patients with epilepsy and non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD). Previous research in other chronic conditions has suggested that writing can be effective in symptom management and improve physical, and psychological health. Although writing is an inexpensive, easy to administer form of therapy, there is no work investigating its effects on patients with seizures. The study will also explore patients’ writing with the view to generate deeper insight and understanding of living with the individual conditions.
Patients will be recruited from the outpatient Neurology Clinic at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, by responding to an advertisement on Social media webpages and by responding to information passed on from self-help organisations for epilepsy and NEAD. Patients must be over the age of 18 years old, diagnosed with epilepsy or NEAD and currently experience seizures.
This study is part of a PhD project at the University of Sheffield funded by the School of Medical Humanities and will be carried out between August 2015 and August 2017 at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
15/NS/0078
Date of REC Opinion
18 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion