A study in the UK found that using the psychological therapy Mental Health Intervention for Children with Epilepsy in addition to usual care improved outcomes compared to usual care alone. The trial was conducted in multiple centers and used a randomized controlled design.

The study detailed in this article focuses on the clinical effectiveness of the Mental Health Intervention for Children with Epilepsy (MICE) compared to assessment-enhanced usual care in young people with epilepsy and common mental health disorders. The study aimed to address the high prevalence of mental health difficulties in children with chronic health conditions like epilepsy, which often go untreated.

The research was conducted as a multicentre, randomised controlled trial involving participants aged 3-18 years attending epilepsy clinics across England and Northern Ireland. The participants were randomly assigned to receive the MICE therapy in addition to usual care or assessment-enhanced usual care alone.

MICE is a modular psychological intervention designed to treat common mental health conditions in children using evidence-based approaches like cognitive behaviour therapy and behavioural parenting strategies. The primary outcome measured was the parent-report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at 6 months post-randomisation.

The findings revealed that the MICE intervention was superior to assessment-enhanced usual care in improving emotional and behavioural symptoms in young people with epilepsy and common mental health disorders. The trial demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of treating mental health comorbidities in epilepsy patients through integrated interventions across ages and in the context of intellectual disability and autism.

The study included 334 participants, with the MICE group showing a significant improvement in SDQ difficulties compared to the control group. Additionally, 50% of serious adverse events were due to seizure-related admissions in the control group.

The results highlighted the potential benefits of integrated mental and physical health care and the successful delivery of psychological interventions by non-mental health specialists. The study serves as a model for incorporating similar interventions in epilepsy services and other chronic health conditions in young people.

The trial was funded by the UK National Institute for Health Research Programme Grants for Applied Research programme and Epilepsy Research UK Endeavour Project Grant. The authors disclosed various financial and non-financial conflicts of interest, and data sharing was subject to approval by the study team.

In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into the clinical effectiveness of the MICE intervention in improving mental health outcomes in young people with epilepsy, emphasizing the importance of integrated care approaches in managing mental health comorbidities in chronic health conditions.

Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)02791-5/fulltext

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