Ergebnisse der Rehabilitation in einer stationären Einrichtung der Behindertenhilfe für junge Erwachsene mit Epilepsie und leichten intellektuellen Beeinträchtigungen

Abstract

A residential rehabilitation program of the Bethel Institute in Germany for approximately 3 years is addressed to young adults with epilepsy and mild intellectual disabilities. This study aimed to document results of the program and to analyze relations between baseline data and results of rehabilitation as well as relations between different outcome measures with a focus on epilepsy. Data of 85 clients with 2 measurements (T1=4 weeks after admission, T2=dis-charge) were available. The following variables were analyzed: seizure frequency, carer-ratings on epilepsy, on daily-life independence and on occupational and psychological status of their clients, assistance needs following the program (residential care vs. supported housing), and client-ratings on satisfaction with the program. Seizure frequency was significantly (p<0.05) reduced, more than half of the clients were assigned for supported housing. Proportions of clients with improvements according to carer-ratings varied between 44.7% with regard to epilepsy and 67.1% with regard to occupational status. Approximately 66% of the clients were satisfied with the program. T1-data only scarcely influenced later assistance needs. Outcome measures correlated moderately with each other. Depending on the outcome measure, at best two thirds of the clients are rehabilitation responders. Considering variance of seizure frequency at T1 and only moderate correlations between outcome measures, reductions of seizure frequency during the program are desirable but not always necessary for improvements of other outcome measures.