Prevalence & treatment of patients with epilepsy associated with intellectual disability : a pilot study in palestine

Abstract EN

We carried out a pilot study to investigate the prevalence and treatment pattern of epilepsy associated with intellectual disability in governmental neurological / psychiatric clinics in Nablus / Palestine.

Medical files of all patients diagnosed with epilepsy in Al-Makhfeh neurology / psychiatry clinic were investigated.

Focus was made on treatment practices among patients whose files indicated intellectual disability.

All data were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software.

Out of one hundred and thirty four patients, twenty patients (15%) were diagnosed with intellectual disability.

Both combo and mono therapy were practiced among those patients.

Barbiturates were commonly used both in mono or in combo therapy.

Newer agents like vigabatrin, lamotrigene and felbamte were not used.

This pilot study should stimulate health authority in Palestine to implement rational treatment policies of epilepsy among patients with intellectual disability given the fact that this group of people do not receive adequate medical and health attention.