Epilepsy in Children with Mental Retardation: A Cohort Study

Abstract

The cumulative risk of seizures and epilepsy was investigated in a prospectively identified cohort of 221 children with mental retardation (MR) born between 1951 and 1955 in Aberdeen, Scotland. By age 22 years, 33 (15%) had epilepsy. An additional 16 (7%) had had at least one seizure, but did not meet the criteria for epilepsy. The cumulative risk of epilepsy was 9, 11, 13, and 15% at 5, 10, 15, and 22 years, respectively. In children with MR and no associated disabilities, the cumulative risk of epilepsy was only 2.6, 3.2, 3.9, and 5.2% at 5, 10, 15, and 22 years. In children with MR and cerebral palsy (CP), the cumulative risk was 28, 31, and 38% at 5, 10, and 22 years. Children with a postnatal injury associated with MR had a cumulative risk of epilepsy of 53, 66, and 66% at 5, 10, and 15 years after the injury. By age 22 years, 39% had achieved 5-year seizure-free remission, including 56% of children with MR without associated disability, 47% of children with MR and CP, and 11% of children with a postnatal injury. We conclude that, in the absence of associated disability or postnatal injury, the risk of epilepsy in the retarded population is low. Epilepsy in this population also will frequently enter remission in later life.

Epidemiological Survey of Epilepsy in the Special School Population in the City of Buenos Aires

“…Several authors have also described a wide range of behavioral comorbidities commonly associated with childhood epilepsy [11][12][13] . Epilepsy was also frequent in children attending schools for children with CP and with motor disabilities (1 out of 7.5 students), as reported in other studies [3,[14][15][16] . At schools for blind and visually impaired children, 7.7% of the students had epilepsy.…”

Study of EEG Findings in Patients Referred from Psychiatrists

“…By age 22 years, 33 (15%) had epilepsy. 9 At the time of referral for 24% (n-12) were on antidepressant, 20% on antiepileptic, 14% were on antipsychotic drugs where as 42% were without these drugs. Probable psychiatric diagnosis was Dissociative disorder in 6 patients, Somatoform disorder in 3 patients, Depression in 6 patients, Schizophrenia in 7 patients and diagnosis was not mentioned in 27 patients.…”

Progress in Understanding Autism: 2007–2010

“…First, the rate of epilepsy (22%) in individuals with autism was substantially higher than the general population rate of 0.63% at the same age. Second, the proportion of autistic individuals with epilepsy who developed seizures for the first time after the age of ten (58%) was significantly higher than that in either a national general population study or that in a Scottish cohort of children with idiopathic mental retardation (Goulden et al 1991). Epilepsy was significantly more common in individuals with either very limited language or a low non-verbal IQ but epilepsy occurred in autistic individuals at all levels of intelligence.…”