Epilepsy in the mentally handicapped: A hospital survey

Abstract

A survey of the medical management of 75 mentally handicapped in-patients with epilepsy was carried out between June and December 1991. The study focused on the number and type of anti-epileptic drugs used, the frequency of monitoring of serum anti-epileptic drug levels and the nature and frequency of other blood tests carried out. Quality standards were then agreed and the survey repeated a year later. The results show that the agreed standards were generally achieved, although a large number of patients continued to receive more than one type of anti-epileptic drug.