Rehabilitation for young adults with epilepsy and mild intellectual disabilities: Results of a prospective study with repeated measurements

• Effects of a residential rehabilitation program are described.
• It is addressed to young adults with epilepsy and mild intellectual disabilities.
• Pre-, post- and follow up-data of 51 clients were available.
• Improvements on seizure frequency, quality of life and assistance needs were detected.
• Improvements at the end of the program remained stable over the next years.

PurposeA residential rehabilitation program of the Bethel Institute in Germany for approximately three years is offered to young adults with epilepsy and mild intellectual disabilities. Participants aim at epilepsy improvements and want to gain more independence. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of the program and their stability over the course of time.MethodNinety-seven clients completed the program between 1999 and 2011. Data with repeated measurements (T1 = four weeks after admission, T2 = discharge, T3 = at least two years after discharge) were only available for 51 of them. Outcome variables were seizure frequency, carer-ratings on their clients’ success, assistance needs after the program (supported housing vs. long-term residential care) and client-ratings on activities of daily living, problems at work, on health-related and on global quality of life (QOL), on life satisfaction and on depression and psychological distress.ResultsSeizure frequency was significantly reduced, more than half of the clients moved to supported housing. Clients reported improvements in activities of daily living and some aspects of their QOL. These improvements remained constant over at least two years. Baseline data scarcely correlated with outcome measures. Analyses of subgroups demonstrated that changes of client-ratings correspond to changes of external parameters such as seizure frequency and professional assistance.ConclusionImprovements with regard to more independent living, a better seizure control and more favorable self-ratings remained stable over the following years. From a social-welfare point of view, it is especially important that about half of the clients moved to supported housing after the program.