States that psychiatric disorders occurring in epileptic patients are true complications, not an essential part of the disease. Certain risk factors – brain lesions, frequent & severe seizures, age of onset 5-10 years, mental disease in the mother, child abuse, neglect, polypharmacy – increase the likelihood of psychiatric complications. Medical treatment should avoid the use of multiple anticonvulsants & sedatives. Those with uncontrolled seizures should be considered for surgery. 32 ref.