Mental health in children with epilepsy trial (MICE)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Transforming the mental health treatment of children and young people with epilepsy trial
IRAS ID
243935
Contact name
Roz Shafran
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Great Ormond Street for Children NHS Foundation Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN57823197
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Summary:
Background: At least half of children with epilepsy also have mental health problems like depression, anxiety and behaviour problems. The mental health problems impact so much on all areas of life including family, friendships and education, that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends the psychological needs of children with epilepsy should always be considered. However, existing epilepsy services are separate from mental health services, so mental health problems aren’t treated as well as they could be.
The proposed treatment: There is an exciting new psychological treatment for childhood anxiety, depression and behavioural problems. This Modular Approach to Treatment for Children – Anxiety, Depression, Trauma or Conduct (MATCH-ADTC) can be given within epilepsy services, by staff without special mental health training and over the phone/Skype, which many families prefer and which reduces costs to the NHS so more children can be treated nationwide. The treatment is flexible so can be given to parents and/or the child according to age and type of problem.
The study: The purpose of the first stage of the research programme was to develop a new epilepsy-specific module to include in MATCH-ADTC and to integrate epilepsy-relevant content throughout MATCH-ADTC, so that MATCH-ADTC meets the special mental health needs of children with epilepsy. The purpose of the second stage is to work with staff and patients in epilepsy services to integrate the personalised, modular psychological intervention developed in stage one within existing service models so that it can be delivered with competence, fidelity and flexibility in a sustainable manner. The aim of the third stage is to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of MATCH-ADTC delivered by the therapists trained in stage two in addition to standard care, compared to standard care alone, for children with common mental health disorders and epilepsy in a multicentre, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial.Summary of Results:
334 families of children with epilepsy were randomly allocated to one of two groups: Mental Health Intervention for Children with Epilepsy (MICE) therapy or a group that had access to their usual mental health care services (usual care). Both groups received an assessment of their mental health needs before being allocated to a group, meaning each group was ‘assessment enhanced’.
After six months, those who received MICE therapy showed significantly lower difficulties in their mental health compared to the usual care group that didn't receive MICE therapy. The study suggests that MICE therapy can effectively address many mental health issues in different age groups, even for those with long-term physical health conditions and neurodevelopmental disorders. MICE therapy is an example of a flexible approach that could be used as a model for developing treatments for mental health difficulties in children and young people with other long-term physical health conditions.REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0250
Date of REC Opinion
15 May 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion