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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  and
Joseph Joyce
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
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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.

Keywords

Learning disabilityEpilepsyMental retardation
Type
Original Papers
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 16 , Issue 1 , March 1999 , pp. 5 - 9
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

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