Illness representations of people with later-onset Functional Seizures
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Illness representations of people with later-onset Functional Seizures.
IRAS ID
296430
Contact name
Isobel Williams
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 31 days
Research summary
Functional Seizures (FS) look like epileptic seizures or faints but are not caused by epilepsy or drops in blood pressure. They are commonly diagnosed in neurology clinics and are often disabling, but relatively little is known about them or how to treat them. What is more, even though FS do begin in later adulthood, they are commonly thought of as a 'young person's' disorder. As such even less research has focused on these 'later-onset Functional Seizures (LOFS).'
One of the main treatments for FS is psychological therapy (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; CBT). In CBT for FS, therapists work with patients' beliefs about what caused their seizures and keep their seizures going (illness representations). However, little is known about illness representations in patients with LOFS.
We therefore plan to conduct a qualitative investigation of the illness representations of people patients with LOFS. This will involve a series of interviews with up to twelve patients whose FS started after the age of 40. Participants will be recruited via the caseloads of NHS consultant neurologists in NHS Lothian and online (e.g., via patient organisation website). We will ask them what they think caused their seizures, what keeps their seizures going and what helps. These interviews will last 60-90 minutes and be conducted over videoconferencing platforms or over the phone. We will also ask participants to fill in a short online survey asking questions about their seizures and their health more generally.
The resulting data will be analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis and written up in a doctoral thesis. We will also aim to publish our findings in a peer-reviewed journal so that other healthcare professionals, researchers, and members of the public might benefit from our findings.REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
21/ES/0094
Date of REC Opinion
23 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion