OBJECTIVES: To develop a single conceptual model of the impact of epilepsy on adult and pediatric patients with partial onset seizures to guide the identification of endpoints in clinical trials of new anti-epileptic treatments METHODS: A literature review to identify qualitative research investigating the impact of partial onset seizures on adult and paediatric patients’ lives.  Structured Embase/Medline searches identified 167 abstracts which were screened to identify primary qualitative research among adult and/or pediatric epilepsy patients.  Publications were excluded if they: did not include partial onset seizure patients (with or without generalised seizures); focused on surgical treatment, were not qualitative research; were conducted outside of North America/Europe; focused on epilepsy as a secondary condition.  12 adult and 8 pediatric qualitative studies were identified. Relevant data were extracted into structured tables. Results from both samples were synthesised into a conceptual model by two experienced qualitative researchers.   RESULTS: Twenty-three concepts were identified from the reviewed literature.  Concepts were largely universal between adult and pediatric patients, although content of concepts varied between adults and pediatric, for example paediatric relationship concerns were focused on rejection in friendships and trouble developing relationships.  For adults the concerns were problematic relationships with spouse or partner, fulfilling family roles and problems having children. CONCLUSIONS: The conceptual model identifies important impacts of epilepsy from the patient perspective. The model also demonstrates areas of patients’ lives that may potentially be enhanced through improvement of epilepsy symptoms. As a result, the model allows for concepts of concern to both adult and pediatric patients to be identified and explored as potential patient-reported endpoints in clinical trials of new antiepileptic treatments