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Clinical and Therapeutic Monitoring of Epilepsy in a Mental Handicap Unit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

R. A. Collacott*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Leicester
A. Dignon
Affiliation:
University of Leicester
A. Hauck
Affiliation:
University of Leicester
J. W. Ward
Affiliation:
University of Leicester
*
Leicester Frith Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester LE3 9QF

Abstract

Within a group of hospitals for the mentally handicapped serving the Leicestershire district, a cohort of 215 epileptic patients was identified, who were followed up for four years. The anticonvulsant medication of each patient was reviewed regularly until an optimal balance between seizure control, absence of medication side-effects, and reduction of polypharmacy was attained. After four years 172 patients remained in the study. A significant reduction in polypharmacy was attained overall. Some groups of patients showed a significant reduction in the frequency of seizures, while a small group of patients with frequent seizures remained difficult to control.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists 1989 

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