Intellectual impairment as an outcome of status epilepticus.

Mental ability changes following status epilepticus (SE) are explored. With respect to the studies reviewed, it is noted that (1) most dealt with children, (2) few utilized any formal psychologic assessment, (3) most were retrospective, (4) earlier studies tended to disclose greater losses in mental ability than later studies, and (5) most investigators described at least a few adverse changes attributable to SE rather than to underlying neurologic disease. An original prospective study is also reported.