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Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.

Limit to evidence status or GRADE (optional)

970 questions in 77 reviews · Epilepsy

current versions
No studies 190 · 19.6%Ungraded 42 · 4.3%Very low 135 · 13.9%Low 289 · 29.8%Moderate 242 · 24.9%High 72 · 7.4%

Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.

QuestionEffectEvidenceStatus / GRADE
Vigabatrin vs placebo
≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency (ITT analysis) Duration of treatment (range): 16–36 weeks · people (aged 10–64 years) with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Vigabatrin add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 2.6 [1.87, 3.63]4 studies · 513 participantsLow
Vigabatrin vs placebo
Treatment withdrawal for any reason Duration of treatment (range): 12 (3 months) to 36 weeks · people (aged 10–64 years) with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Vigabatrin add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 2.86 [1.25, 6.55]4 studies · 370 participantsVery low
Vigabatrin vs placebo
Adverse effects: ataxia Duration of treatment (range): 7–36 weeks · people (aged 10–64 years) with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Vigabatrin add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 2.76 [0.96, 7.94]7 studies · 481 participantsVery low
Vigabatrin vs placebo
Adverse effects: dizziness/light‐headedness Duration of treatment (range): 7–36 weeks · people (aged 10–64 years) with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Vigabatrin add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.74 [1.05, 2.87]9 studies · 709 participantsLow
Vigabatrin vs placebo
Adverse effects: fatigue Duration of treatment (range): 8–36 weeks · people (aged 10–64 years) with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Vigabatrin add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.65 [1.08, 2.51]9 studies · 709 participantsLow
Vigabatrin vs placebo
Adverse effects: nystagmus Duration of treatment (range): 16–18 weeks · people (aged 10–64 years) with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Vigabatrin add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.53 [0.62, 3.76]2 studies · 357 participantsLow
Vigabatrin vs placebo
Adverse effects: abnormal vision Duration of treatment (range): 8–36 weeks · people (aged 10–64 years) with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Vigabatrin add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.64 [0.67, 4.02]5 studies · 430 participantsVery low
Add‐on lamotrigine vs placebo
50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency · people with drug‐resistant generalised tonic‐clonic seizures
Lamotrigine add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant generalised tonic‐clonic seizures (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.88 [1.43, 2.45]2 studies · 270 participantsLow
Add‐on lamotrigine vs placebo
Seizure freedom (i.e. total cessation of seizure activity) · people with drug‐resistant generalised tonic‐clonic seizures
Lamotrigine add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant generalised tonic‐clonic seizures (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.55 [0.89, 2.72]2 studies · 270 participantsVery low
Add‐on lamotrigine vs placebo
Treatment withdrawal · people with drug‐resistant generalised tonic‐clonic seizures
Lamotrigine add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant generalised tonic‐clonic seizures (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.2 [0.72, 1.99]2 studies · 270 participantsVery low
Add‐on lamotrigine vs placebo
Adverse effects · people with drug‐resistant generalised tonic‐clonic seizures
Lamotrigine add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant generalised tonic‐clonic seizures (2020) · Cochrane
RR 0.91 [0.29, 2.86]2 studies · 270 participantsVery low
Intervention NR
Effects on adherence (behavioural interventions) · adults and children with epilepsy
Strategies for improving adherence to antiepileptic drug treatment in people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 391 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Effects on adherence (educational interventions) · adults and children with epilepsy
Strategies for improving adherence to antiepileptic drug treatment in people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted13 studies · 1938 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Effects on adherence (mixed interventions) · adults and children with epilepsy
Strategies for improving adherence to antiepileptic drug treatment in people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted4 studies · 612 participantsHigh
Intervention NR
Seizure frequency and/or seizure severity Assessed by National Hospital Seizure Severity Scale (NHS3), seizure diary and self‐reporting · adults and children with epilepsy
Strategies for improving adherence to antiepileptic drug treatment in people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted11 studies · 2147 participantsModerate
Intervention NR
Self‐efficacy · adults and children with epilepsy
Strategies for improving adherence to antiepileptic drug treatment in people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 453 participantsLow
Intervention NR
Quality of life · adults and children with epilepsy
Strategies for improving adherence to antiepileptic drug treatment in people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted6 studies · 1027 participantsModerate
Rufinamide vs placebo
50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency ‐ ITT analysis · people with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.79 [1.44, 2.22]6 studies · 1759 participantsModerate
Rufinamide vs placebo
Adverse effects: diplopia · people with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 4.6 [2.53, 8.38]3 studies · 1295 participantsLow
Rufinamide vs placebo
Seizure freedom · people with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.32 [0.36, 4.86]1 study · 73 participantsModerate
Rufinamide vs placebo
Treatment withdrawal · people with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.83 [1.45, 2.31]6 studies · 1759 participantsModerate
Rufinamide vs placebo
Adverse effects: dizziness · people with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 2.52 [1.9, 3.34]3 studies · 1295 participantsModerate
Rufinamide vs placebo
Adverse effects: fatigue · people with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.46 [1.08, 1.97]3 studies · 1295 participantsModerate
Rufinamide vs placebo
Adverse effects: headache · people with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.36 [1.08, 1.69]3 studies · 1228 participantsModerate
Rufinamide vs placebo
Adverse effects: somnolence · people with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.94 [1.44, 2.61]6 studies · 1759 participantsModerate
Rufinamide vs placebo
Adverse effects: nausea · people with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.87 [1.33, 2.64]3 studies · 1295 participantsModerate
Rufinamide vs placebo
Adverse effects: vomiting · people with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Rufinamide add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 2.95 [1.8, 4.82]4 studies · 777 participantsLow
Interventions for vs no intervention
Number of deaths due to SUDEP: nocturnal supervision compared to no supervision · cases of SUDEP and matched controls (number of deaths due to SUDEP) and consecutive people with epilepsy from a…
Treatments for the prevention of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted203 participantsVery low
Interventions for vs no intervention
Number of deaths due to SUDEP: additional nocturnal supervision compared to no additional supervision · cases of SUDEP and matched controls (number of deaths due to SUDEP) and consecutive people with epilepsy from a…
Treatments for the prevention of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) (2020) · Cochrane
OR 0.76 [0.4, 1.46]48 participantsVery low
Interventions for vs no intervention
Number of deaths due to SUDEP: special precautions compared to no special precautions · cases of SUDEP and matched controls (number of deaths due to SUDEP) and consecutive people with epilepsy from a…
Treatments for the prevention of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) (2020) · Cochrane
OR 0.41 [0.2, 0.82]155 participantsVery low
Interventions for vs no intervention
Number of other deaths (unrelated to SUDEP) · cases of SUDEP and matched controls (number of deaths due to SUDEP) and consecutive people with epilepsy from a…
Treatments for the prevention of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Interventions for vs no intervention
Change in mean depression and anxiety scores · cases of SUDEP and matched controls (number of deaths due to SUDEP) and consecutive people with epilepsy from a…
Treatments for the prevention of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted222 participantsVery low
Interventions for vs no intervention
Clinically important change in quality of life · cases of SUDEP and matched controls (number of deaths due to SUDEP) and consecutive people with epilepsy from a…
Treatments for the prevention of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted215 participantsVery low
Interventions for vs no intervention
Number of hospital attendances for seizures · cases of SUDEP and matched controls (number of deaths due to SUDEP) and consecutive people with epilepsy from a…
Treatments for the prevention of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extractedNRNo studies
Psychological treatments vs usual or supportive care
QOLIE‐31 total scorea · adolescents and adults with epilepsy
Psychological treatments for people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted11 studies · 643 participantsModerate
Psychological treatments vs usual or supportive care
QOLIE‐31 emotional well‐being subscalea · adolescents and adults with epilepsy
Psychological treatments for people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 studies · 643 participantsModerate
Psychological treatments vs usual or supportive care
QOLIE‐31 energy or fatigue subscalea · adolescents and adults with epilepsy
Psychological treatments for people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 studies · 642 participantsModerate
Psychological treatments vs usual or supportive care
QOLIE‐31 overall QoL subscalea · adolescents and adults with epilepsy
Psychological treatments for people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 studies · 639 participantsModerate
Psychological treatments vs usual or supportive care
QOLIE‐31 seizure worry subscalea · adolescents and adults with epilepsy
Psychological treatments for people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 studies · 632 participantsModerate
Psychological treatments vs usual or supportive care
QOLIE‐31 cognitive functioning subscalea · adolescents and adults with epilepsy
Psychological treatments for people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 studies · 641 participantsModerate
Psychological treatments vs usual or supportive care
QOLIE‐31 medication effects subscalea · adolescents and adults with epilepsy
Psychological treatments for people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 studies · 643 participantsModerate
Psychological treatments vs usual or supportive care
QOLIE‐31 social function subscalea · adolescents and adults with epilepsy
Psychological treatments for people with epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted10 studies · 630 participantsModerate
Oxcarbazepine vs control
Median percentage seizure reduction per 28 days · drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Oxcarbazepine add‐on for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
no estimate extracted5 studies · 1494 participantsModerate
Oxcarbazepine vs control
50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency · drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Oxcarbazepine add‐on for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.8 [1.27, 2.56]6 studies · 1593 participantsLow
Oxcarbazepine vs control
Ataxia · drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Oxcarbazepine add‐on for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 2.54 [0.86, 7.54]5 studies · 1227 participantsModerate
Oxcarbazepine vs control
Hyponatraemia · drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Oxcarbazepine add‐on for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 2.53 [0.27, 23.85]6 studies · 1593 participantsModerate
Oxcarbazepine vs control
Somnolence · drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Oxcarbazepine add‐on for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 2.03 [1.17, 3.54]6 studies · 1593 participantsLow
Oxcarbazepine vs control
Seizure freedom · drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Oxcarbazepine add‐on for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 2.86 [1.19, 6.87]5 studies · 1494 participantsLow
Oxcarbazepine vs control
Treatment withdrawal · drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Oxcarbazepine add‐on for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2020) · Cochrane
RR 1.75 [1.44, 2.13]6 studies · 1593 participantsModerate
Topiramate vs placebo
50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency (ITT analysis) · people with drug‐resistant focal epilepsy
Topiramate add‐on therapy for drug‐resistant focal epilepsy (2019) · Cochrane
RR 2.71 [2.05, 3.59]12 studies · 1650 participantsHigh