Comment: Improving the care of people with epilepsy and intellectual disabilities.

Abstract

Epilepsy and intellectual disabilities are both relatively common in the general population, each affecting between 0.5% and 1%. Both conditions share a common heritage of heterogeneity, dearth of care expertise outside major centers, and an unfortunate degree of stigmatization.1 They are often comorbid, as up to one-third of people with active epilepsy have an intellectual and developmental disability and up to half of people with a severe intellectual and developmental disability may have a seizure disorder. There is clearly a paucity of authoritative studies on most aspects of this common association and this is particularly true for assessments of effective management.1 This limitation reduces the quality of care of these individuals, and thus their quality of life, also affecting other involved persons, such as families, and, potentially, their careers.