title: The psychosocial impact of epilepsy in adults with an intellectual disability.
abstract: Epilepsy has a pervasive impact on the quality of life, and thus the psychosocial well-being, of adults with an intellectual disability. Social and economical well-being appears to be affected by an increase in restrictions on activities and thus social contact. The population has very high rates of challenging behaviors and of mental illness. It is likely that these have a significant impact on epilepsy management. When populations with and without epilepsy are controlled for level of ability, no difference in prevalence of behavior or mental illness is seen between the populations. Current knowledge is limited on crucial issues such as the long-term effect of seizure disorder on mental health, quality of life, and cognition.
authors.affiliation: Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities, Centre for Health Sciences Research, Cardiff University, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4YS, Wales, UK. mp_kerr@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: Amna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turky
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012922:Social Change; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology