Health gain for epilepsy associated with learning disabilities psychiatric care

Objectives: The establishment of a learning disabilities psychiatric service for people living in north Northamptonshire presented the opportunity to measure the clinical effectiveness of epilepsy care provided by learning disabilities psychiatrists. Method: Baseline and one year outcome health measurements were made on a group of adults with learning disabilities and epilepsy who received learning disabilities psychiatric care (n = 42), and also on a group of adults with learning disabilities and epilepsy who did not receive care from learning disabilities psychiatry (n = 12), Comparisons were made between baseline and outcome measurements for those who did, compared to those who did not receive psychiatric care. The comparison group was included as conducting a baseline health assessment may itself improve the quality of healthcare by raising awareness of the issue (in a way that is unconnected to care provided by the psychiatrist). Results: Learning disabilities psychiatric care was found to effect reduced seizure frequency, with a reduced frequency of drug side-effects and reduced frequency of polypharmacy. The type of the person's seizures was more likely to be determined, medical reviews and appropriate blood test monitoring conducted and active interventions made to improve seizure control and to withdraw unnecessary drugs, if the person was receiving learning disabilities psychiatric care. Almost all of these results were highly statistically significant. Conclusion: It is important that learning disabilities psychiatric care is available to this group, as it has been demonstrated to effect health gain.