[Mental efficiency of the progeny of men with epilepsy]

58 men treated for epilepsy, average age 38.5, and their 100 children aged on average 11.2 were subjected to psychological tests adapted to patients age. Mental effectiveness test (IQ) were based on WHO criteria for Wechsler Scale. Among the epileptic patients 77.6% presented normal IQ tests results, whereas 5.6% were mentally retarded. In the children group, 85% achieved normal IQ tests results. The proportion of mentally retarded children (5%) was higher than in general population. The results below the normal range of IQ were significantly more frequently observed in children whose fathers themselves achieved low IQ (p less than 0.05) or had severe form of epilepsy (p less than 0.025) or in children from families with poor socioeconomic status (p less than 0.025).