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.