Guidance
Recommendations for research
Recommendations for research
The guideline committee has made the following recommendations for research.
Key recommendations for research
1 Antibody testing
What immunomodulation strategies are effective in people with defined autoimmune epilepsy syndromes?
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on antibody testing .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review D: antibody testing in epilepsy.
2 Complex epilepsy syndromes
What antiseizure therapies (alternative or add-on) are effective in the treatment of complex epilepsy syndromes (that is, Dravet syndrome, Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, infantile spams syndrome and epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures [Doose syndrome]) when first-line therapy is unsuccessful or not tolerated?
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on Dravet syndrome .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review K: effectiveness of antiseizure therapies in the treatment of Dravet syndrome.
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on Lennox–Gastaut syndrome .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review L: effectiveness of antiseizure therapies in the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on infantile spasms syndrome .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review P: effectiveness of antiseizure therapies for infantile spasms.
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures (Doose syndrome) .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review R: effectiveness of antiseizure therapies for epilepsy with myoclonic-atonic seizures (Doose syndrome).
4 Vagus nerve stimulation
What is the effectiveness of vagus nerve stimulation in treating epilepsy (including people with learning disabilities as a subgroup)?
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on vagus nerve stimulation .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review 14: vagus nerve stimulation.
5 Psychological treatments
What is the cost effectiveness of providing tailored psychological treatments for people with epilepsy?
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on psychological, neurobehavioural, cognitive and developmental comorbidities in epilepsy .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in in evidence review 16: psychological treatments for people with epilepsies.
Other recommendations for research
6 Monitoring antiseizure medications in women and girls
What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of therapeutic drug monitoring in girls, young women and women with epilepsy?
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on support and monitoring for women planning pregnancy or who are pregnant .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review 8: therapeutic drug monitoring in women and girls.
7 Digital health technologies
What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of digital health technologies in people with epilepsy?
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on new technologies .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review 5: new technologies.
8 Antiseizure medication for repeated or cluster seizures
What antiseizure medications (monotherapy or add-on) are effective in the treatment of repeated or cluster seizures?
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on repeated or cluster seizures .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review 10: antiseizure medications for repetitive/cluster seizures: monotherapy and add-on therapies.
9 Risk prediction tool for second seizure
Development of a risk prediction tool for second seizures in people with a single seizure, and an external validation of a risk prediction tool to detect the probability of a second seizure in people with a single seizure at baseline.
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on referral after a first seizure or remission and assessing risk of a second seizure .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review 1: prediction of second seizure.
10 Ketogenic diets
What is the short-term and long-term clinical and cost effectiveness of ketogenic diets in adults and children with drug-resistant epilepsy, and what factors affect the long-term maintenance and tolerability of ketogenic diets?
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on ketogenic diet .
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review 12: ketogenic diets for drug-resistant epilepsy.