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Ictal aggression in severely mentally handicapped people

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Mary Creaby ,
Mary Warner ,
Nahla Jamil  and
Sudad Jawad
Mary Creaby
Affiliation:
Brothers of Charity Services, Woodlands, Renmore, Galway
Mary Warner
Affiliation:
Brothers of Charity Services, Woodlands, Renmore, Galway
Nahla Jamil
Affiliation:
Whitchurch Hospital, Cardiff
Sudad Jawad
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF4 4XN
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Abstract

Objective: To study the relationship between epilepsy and aggression in a population of severely mentally handicapped people. Methods: Comparing epilepsy and aggression variables in people with epilepsy without aggression, people with aggression without epilepsy, and people with both. The epilepsy variables were: seizure frequency, classification, anticonvulsant drugs, therapeutic drug monitoring, and neuroleptic drugs. Aggression variables were: frequency, direction, type, and neuroleptic drugs. Results: Prevalence of aggressive behaviour was similar in people with and without epilepsy (36%). Partial seizures were less prevalent in people with epilepsy and aggression. People with epilepsy were more likely to manifest unprovoked aggression directed against property. Conclusion: Some episodes of aggressive behaviour in people with epilepsy may be ictal in origin.

Keywords

Ictal aggressionMental handicap
Type
Original Papers
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , February 1993 , pp. 12 - 15
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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