Introduction Treatment of institutionalized epileptics with psychiatric symptoms may pose problems, since several widely used neuroleptic and thymoleptic drugs have been shown to lower the threshold for epileptic seizures (Duvoisin 1968, Shepard et al. 1968, Jarvik 1970, Lingjwde 1970). Many epileptics are in great need of psychopharmacological treatment, however, and a neuroleptic drug without epileptogenic properties would therefore be desirable. Metylperone (BuronilR, Ferrosan) may be such a substance. Metylperone, a neuroleptic belonging to the butyrophenone series, has mainly been tested and used in patients with senile confusion and conditions of agitation (Engstrand 1967, Nargdrd et al. 1967, Simmelsgaard et al. 1967, Vangtorp et at. 1968, Beck-Nielsen & Clausen 1970, Viskum 1970), and the effect has been reported to be similar to that of other currently used phenothiazines, mainly promazine. Metylperone has also been tested in chronic schizophrenic patients (Schulsinger et al. 1965) and acute psychotic conditions (Haugen 1967) where the response has been reported to be about the same as with chlorpromazine. Good results have also been reported in manic conditions and delirium tremens (Walcher 1970), and, in combination with amitriptyline, in agitated depressions (Ambrozi et al. 1969). In animal experiments metylperone, in contrast to chlorpromazine, has been shown to have a protective effect on experimentally induced convulsions (Christensen et al. 1965). It therefore seemed justified to test this drug in a mentally rather severely disturbed group of epileptics.