BIOLOGIC FACTORS AS PREDICTORS OF SOCIAL OUTCOME OF EPILEPSY IN INTELLECTUALLY NORMAL-CHILDREN - A POPULATION-BASED STUDY

We studied social outcome for all the normally intelligent children in our province with onset of epilepsy between 1977 and 1985 (excluding absence and ''minor motor'' seizures). After follow-up averaging 7 1/2 years, the 337 patients were 7 to 28 years of age. Outcome measures w ere age dependent. Of those old enough to be at risk, the percentage w ith each unfavorable outcome was as follows: school failure 34%, use o f special educational resources 34%, mental health consultation 22%, p sychotropic medication 5%, unemployment 20%, social isolation 27%, ina dvertent pregnancy 12%, and criminal conviction 2%. In a multivariate model correcting for number of potential unfavorable outcomes (based o n age at end of follow-up), many variables related to epilepsy, seizur e control, and electroencephalographic findings were not associated wi th social outcome. Only two variables were associated with at least on e unfavorable outcome-learning disorder (p < 0.001) and more than 21 s eizures before treatment was begun (p < 0.03). The only variable with no unfavorable outcome was simple partial seizures (p < 0.003). Sensit ivity and specificity of this model were 54% and 68%, respectively, in dicating that social outcome for these children was often not related to biologic factors reflected by the medical details and clinical cour se of their disorder.