Sleep Disturbance and Learning in BECCTS

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Investigating the relationship between sleep disturbance and learning in children with Benign Epilepsy of Childhood with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECCTS): A Randomised Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over Trial.

• IRAS ID

  56971

• Contact name

  Finbar O'Callaghan

• Eudract number

  2011-001571-39

• ISRCTN Number

  (in application)

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  -

• Research summary

  Recent research has clarified the relationship between healthy sleep and the consolidation of newly learned skills and information. The disturbance of sleep physiology in Benign Epilepsy of Childhood with Centrotemporal Spikes (BECCTS) (previously known as Benign Rolandic Epilepsy) is well characterised. Given the increasing recognition of specific cognitive deficits in BECCTS, there are important questions about the possible links between sleep disturbance, cognitive impairments, and the response of such features to effective treatment in BECCTS.This study will assess 20 children with newly diagnosed BECCTS, for:-the quality of their sleep,-the rates of nocturnal epileptiform discharges (abnormal electrical activity in the brain),-and performance on consolidation of learning tasks.The children will then take part in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial of the anticonvulsant drug sulthiame. Treatment is targeted at eliminating nocturnal epileptiform discharges, thereby minimising disturbance of sleep. The corresponding impact on consolidation of learning in these children will then be assessed. Results of the study will help to describe the sleep pathology and the nocturnal epileptiform activity in children with BECCTS, and how they are affected by anticonvulsant therapy. The study may demonstrate that effective treatment of BECCTS improves learning in children with BECCTS. As these children are not always treated for their epilepsy, results of this study could potentially have a significant impact on the care and outcome for this patient group.

• REC name

  South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  11/SW/0136

• Date of REC Opinion

  31 Oct 2011

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion