Seizure Signatures Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Electrophysiological, Cognitive and Psychiatric Signatures of Epileptic and Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures
IRAS ID
265164
Contact name
Irene Faiman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
Epilepsy is a serious neurological condition affecting 65 million people worldwide. Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) are episodes of observable abrupt change in behaviour or consciousness in the absence of the electrophysiological changes in the brain that accompany an epileptic seizure. The differential diagnosis between PNES and epileptic seizures (ES) is a prominent problem in clinical practice, resulting in diagnostic delays of 7 years, on average. This imposes health and economic burdens at the individual and population levels.
Early diagnosis is crucial to ensure appropriate and timely treatment, and to reduce unnecessary health costs. Observing a non-epileptic seizure event whilst recording normal electroencephalographic (EEG) activity is the gold standard method supporting the diagnosis of PNES. However, recordings may require prolonged periods of time and events are not always observed.
The aim of the proposed cross-sectional observational study is to identify factors that can differentiate ES from PNES based on measures that are easier to obtain, such as EEG recorded in the absence of seizures, electrocardiogram (ECG), and a combination of cognitive and psychiatric measures.
Additionally, the proposed study will investigate rates of suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts and self-harm behaviour, and their relationship with dissociation in epilepsy.We will recruit people with ES and people with PNES from King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley Hospital. They will be asked permission to access their clinical data, including EEG and ECG recordings. They will undergo assessment of mood, cognition and quality of life, and a suicide risk assessment.
The identification discriminative markers is an unmet clinical need that would contribute to improved patient care, and reduced psychological and economical burden.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0208
Date of REC Opinion
5 Mar 2020
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion