BACKGROUND: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence in the UK has issued 
guidelines stating all individuals with epilepsy be given information about 
sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).
METHODS: We conducted a survey of current practice among UK neurologists, using 
a questionnaire sent to all practising neurologists in the UK listed on the 
Association of British Neurologists database, asking under what circumstances 
they told patients about SUDEP.
RESULTS: Of the validated respondents, 5% discussed SUDEP with all patients, 26% 
with a majority, 61% with a few, and 7.5% with none. The commonest reasons for 
SUDEP to be discussed were the patient asking about it and the neurologist 
counselling people with known risk factors for SUDEP.
CONCLUSIONS: The variation we found, although not necessarily in tune with the 
guidelines, reflects the variation in patients' need for knowledge about their 
condition.