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Characteristics of epilepsy in a population based cohort of adults with learning disability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Shoumitro Deb
Affiliation:
Division of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF4 4XN, Wales.
Joseph Joyce
Affiliation:
Consultant Psychiatrist, Northgate Hospital, Morpeth, Northumberland, NF6I 3BP, England

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to define various aspects of epilepsy in a population based sample of adults with a learning disability.

Method: A purpose-designed questionnaire was used to collect information on various aspects of epilepsy on 143 adults with a learning disability and epilepsy. Names of these subjects were collected from a hospital for learning disabled adults, specialist epilepsy clinics and social services department. Data was gathered from case notes and direct patient examination.

Results: Generalised tonic clonic seizure was the most common seizure type. Seventy-three per cent sustained a seizure within the previous 12 months of the study. Abnormal EEG findings including excessive slow background activities and epileptiform waves were documented in a high proportion of subjects with a learning disability and epilepsy.

Conclusions: Both resistant epilepsy and generalised tonic clonic seizures seem to be more frequent among the learning disabled population compared with the general population.

Type
Original Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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