COgnitive Behavioural Therapy for Dissociative (Non-Epileptic) Seizures
A Randomised Controlled Trial
The CODES study is independent research funded by the National Institute for Health Research (Health Technology Assessment programme, 12/26/01, COgnitive behavioural therapy vs standardised medical care for adults with Dissociative non-Epileptic Seizures: A multicentre randomised controlled trial (CODES)). The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.
The CODES trial is a randomised controlled study looking at a treatment for Dissociative (Non-Epileptic) Seizures.
Dissociative Seizures are attacks that look like epilepsy, typically with a blackout. The person may have shaking movements or fall down and lie still. Dissociative Seizures are genuine, common and distressing for patients and those around them.
The CODES trial is testing whether a type of talking treatment, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), helps patients with Dissociative Seizures.
The trial, funded by NIHR (National Institute of Health Research), was designed to find out whether CBT is worth having in addition to standardised medical care. It could be that it is, it might be that it isn't - that is what the trial is designed to find out.
Read more on this site, for patients, and health professionals.
This video made in collaboration with Science Animated, gives a brief summary of the CODES trial results. You can read more about the results of the trial including links to open access papers on our RESULTS page.