A study published in the Irish Medical Journal has found that the prevalence of epilepsy in seven psychiatric inpatient units in Ireland was three times that of general population estimates. The prevalence of epilepsy in the general population is approximately 1% but the study has found that nine of a total of 267 patients (3.4%) in the participating psychiatric inpatient units had a diagnosis of epilepsy.
The study also found that very little data was recorded about the patients’ epilepsy in the inpatient units, for example information on seizure type, triggers, clinical investigations, seizure patterns or epilepsy risk assessments. It also found that while all individuals were correctly prescribed their regular anti-epileptic medication, the prescription of emergency rescue medication was minimal.
The authors state that:
“We found that the documentation of care planning to support individuals with epilepsy was limited, particularly in relation to performance of risk assessments for management of seizures. The introduction of appropriate tools for care planning may not just ameliorate the management of epilepsy and reduce risk of physical harm but may also positively impact on mental health care given the adverse impact that epilepsy may have on a range of mental health disorders, particularly if not fully controlled.”
The study concluded that while results should be interpreted with caution due to the small scale of the study, there is scope for better training on epilepsy for psychiatrists and that appropriate care plans should be introduced in such settings in order to optimise physical and mental wellbeing of people with epilepsy in psychiatric units.
Source: Ir Med J September 2018; 111;8; (809)