MOVEMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH COMPLEX EPILEPSY FROM AN INSTITUTION INTO THE COMMUNITY - SEIZURE CONTROL AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES

The successful community placement of 15 medically fragile individuals with profound mental retardation and complex epilepsy was examined. W e found that simplification of anticonvulsants, early intervention for seizures, and improved staff education resulted in (a) fewer seizures , (b) decreases in emergency room visits for status seizures and drug- related side effects, and (c) increased levels of functioning as measu red by activities of daily living. This program allowed for a medicall y fragile epileptic population to be transferred from the institution to the community.