Effect of cannabidiol on sleep in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies

Any change in sleep quality in patients with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) and Dravet Syndrome (DS) taking cannabidiol will be assessed by a change in cortical arousal index.

This is a multi-centre, prospective, cohort study to evaluate epileptic encephalogram abnormalities and seizures in relation to sleep measures using polysomnography in patients diagnosed with an epileptic encephalopathy (Dravet syndrome and LGS) during video-EEG monitoring admission and are undergoing treatment with cannabidiol (EPIDYOLEX) as part of their routine clinical care. A total of 26 patients will be recruited from The Alfred and The Austin hospitals who are newly prescribed with EPIDYOLEX but have not yet commenced. The study will consist of a 4-week baseline period prior to drug initiation, during which time participants will keep a seizure diary and undergo actigraphy (GENEActiv accelerometer wristwatch) measurements. Participants will subsequently undergo two hospital admissions consisting of 24-hour EEG and polysomnography assessments at baseline, and the end of the study (16-weeks following drug initiation), respectively; actigraphy will be measured throughout the study period. All medications or interventions for epilepsy will remain unchanged the 4-weeks during the screening period and throughout the study period.