Effect of folate metabolism on the psychopathology of adults with mental retardation and epilepsy.
Different aspects of psychopathology and folate metabolism were studied in a group of 150 adults from hospitals and the community who had mental retardation and epilepsy and compared with an individually matched control group of 150 adults with mental retardation but no epilepsy. Only 4.45% of those receiving anticonvulsant medication had a serum folate level below the normal laboratory reference range. Anticonvulsants other than sodium valproate tended to lower serum folate level. Results showed an inverse relation between the serum anticonvulsant levels and serum folate level. When the serum folate level of the adults with epilepsy who had either severe behavior problems and/or psychiatric illness and/or personality disorder was compared with the adults with epilepsy who did not have these disorders, no major significant intergroup difference emerged in serum folate level.
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Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D005494:Folic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011599:Psychopathology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D005492:Folic Acid