MBCT Research Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy as Intervention for Functional/Dissociative Seizures
IRAS ID
346152
Contact name
Ivan Koychev
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford/Research Governance, Ethics and Assurance
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
The study will research adults (18+) with functional/dissociative seizures (FDS), who have been referred to the treatment provided by Dr Niels Detert and his team at the Oxford University Hospitals, Psychological Medicine, Russell Cairns Unit (RCU). The mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) group therapy treatment has been running as a Neurosciences Mindfulness Course within the RCU, six times a year, and has seen success in treating patients with anxiety, depression, FDS, and other psychiatric disorders. Our goal is to monitor patients entering the course with FDS and their progress throughout the sessions, to gauge the efficacy of MBCT as a viable treatment and lend further support to the development of FDS psychological interventions. Data on the primary objective of reducing the frequency and severity of seizures will be gathered by patient seizure logs. Long-term data will also show the long-term cognitive effect of the therapy and its ability to prevent relapses. The study is in pursuit of collecting data to determine if MBCT is the most effective psychological intervention for FDS, although it should be noted that there is no “one true treatment”, as each patient is individual. Results are, historically, inconsistent with interventions of FDS, which is why further studies such as this is being deemed necessary for improvement.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0097
Date of REC Opinion
17 Apr 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion