SEAT

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Understanding Side Effects of Antiseizure Medication: The Impact of Medication Type, Personal Background, and Thinking Style

• IRAS ID

  362026

• Contact name

  Adam Noble

• Contact email

  adam.noble@liverpool.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Liverpool

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  In the UK, epilepsy affects about 1% of the population. The main treatment is antiseizure medication (ASM). While many people become seizure-free with ASMs, around 60% report at least one side effect. This matters because side effects can reduce quality of life and make it harder for people to take their medication as prescribed, which can increase seizure frequency, lead to poorer health outcomes, and raise demand on health services.

  We do not yet fully understand why people differ so much in the side effects they experience. This project will explore whether psychological factors (thinking styles) may help explain some of this variation, after taking into account medical and demographic factors such as medication type and other health conditions.

  Our study hypotheses (predictions) are based on the so-called Self-Regulatory Executive Function (S-REF) model of thinking. It will involve us examining whether certain beliefs and thinking styles predict:

  • The side effects reported by people with epilepsy
  • The side effects noticed by their significant others (family member/ close friend)
  • People’s satisfaction with their treatment
  • Use of health services

  This will be a longitudinal, observational study — meaning we will follow participants over time without altering their treatment. It will be the first study to test whether the S-REF model can help us understand why some people experience more or worse side effects than others.

  The project was identified as a priority by people with epilepsy, their families, and healthcare professionals. Both the design of the study and the areas we are focusing on have been shaped in close collaboration with service users and providers.

  Our research team includes neurologists, psychologists, health-services researchers and a statistician, and the project will form the basis of a PhD.
  

• REC name

  North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  26/NW/0026

• Date of REC Opinion

  22 Jan 2026

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion