title: Clinical advocacy for persons with epilepsy and mental retardation living in community-based programs.
abstract: There is a trend toward reducing the amount of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) prescribed to persons with developmental disabilities and epilepsy who live in institutional settings. This trend is much less clear with persons who live in community-based settings. A significant percent (58%) of the author's past and current clinical caseload of community-based residents benefitted from AED reductions. An overview of AED usage of all individuals with mental retardation and epilepsy living in homes managed by one community-based vendor was conducted. With 52.5% of the residents taking AED polypharmacy, the assessment illustrates the need to provide clinical advocacy. The improvement in the quality of life is significant for many as evidenced by the three case studies provided. The benefits of clinical advocacy and improved health-related quality of life are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Greater Lynn Mental Health and Retardation Association in Lynn Massachusetts.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Baribeault
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification; D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D016352:Group Homes; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants