Table 1.

Participant inclusion and exclusion criteria

Study part	Inclusion criteria	Exclusion criteria
Part A—Intervention development
Patients	Established diagnosis of epilepsy (≥1 year) All epilepsy syndromes and all types of focal and generalised seizures Currently being prescribed antiepileptic medication Age ≥16 years (no upper age limit) Have visited ED in the past 2 years for epilepsy (as reported by the patient) Live in the North West area of England Able to provide informed consent and participate in intervention in English	Acute symptomatic seizures related to acute neurological illness or substance misuse Severe current psychiatric disorder (eg, acute psychosis) or life-threatening medical illness
Carers	A significant other to the patient (eg, family member, friend) whom the patient identifies as providing informal support Age ≥16 years (no upper age limit) Live in the North West area of England Able to provide informed consent and participate in intervention in English	Severe current psychiatric disorder or life-threatening medical illness
Part B—Pilot RCT
Patients	Established diagnosis of epilepsy (≥1 year) All epilepsy syndromes and all types of focal and generalised seizures Currently being prescribed antiepileptic medication Age ≥16 years (no upper age limit) Visited an ED for epilepsy on ≥2 occasions within the previous 12 months (as reported by patient) Live within 25 miles of any of the ED recruitment sites Able to provide informed consent, participate in intervention and independently complete questionnaires in English	Actual or suspected psychogenic non-epileptic seizures alone or in combination with epilepsy Acute symptomatic seizures related to acute neurological illness or substance misuse Severe current psychiatric disorders (eg, acute psychosis) or life-threatening medical illness Enrolled in other epilepsy related non-pharmacological treatment studies
Carers	A significant other to the patient (eg, family member, friend) whom the patient identifies as providing informal support Age ≥16 years (no upper age limit) Lives in the North West area of England	Severe current psychiatric disorders or life-threatening medical illness Enrolled in other epilepsy related non-pharmacological treatment studies

While efforts will be made to maximise the recruitment of patient-carer dyads, patient participants will be permitted to take part without a carer. Carers will not, however, be able to take part in this part of the project without a patient partner having at least consented to take part in the study. Up to 90% of PWE can identify an informal carer.⁵⁸

ED, emergency department PWE, people with chronic epilepsy; RCT, randomised controlled trial.