Non-Epileptic Seizures in Young People: Carer insights
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Navigating Non-Epileptic Seizures in Young People: Insights from Carers
IRAS ID
348736
Contact name
Stacey Pitcher
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 26 days
Research summary
There is an increasing number of children and young people presenting in hospital neurology clinics with non-epileptic seizures. While they may look, to the untrained eye, similar to epileptic seizures, they aren't caused by the same abnormal electrical activity that can be found in young people with epilepsy. Instead, they are due to problems in the functioning of the neural networks in the brain.
Children who have epileptic seizures can rely on their parents, or other people who care for them, to help look after them. We know that this can be a difficult experience for their parents or carers. But there has been no research into what it is like for parents or carers when a child has non-epileptic seizures. There are enough differences between the two that we can guess that there will be different experiences.
In this study, we want to understand those experiences. We will interview 10 to 15 people whose children have non-epileptic seizures and are receiving psychological support through the NHS, to ask them about their own experiences. By focusing on a smaller number of people, we can spend more time really thinking about their experiences and fully understanding them. The study is important because it could help us to understand the best way to support parents of children who have non-epileptic seizures, and it might help the children too.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
25/WA/0166
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jul 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion