[Social aspect of epilepsy].
Patients with epilepsy (PWE) suffer from various social consequences of long-standing epileptic condition and comorbidities. The seizure is the most important factor that affects social life of PWE. 20-30% of PWE have intractable seizures. The seizure impairs the work performance especially when the postictal functional disturbance takes a protracted course. The important comorbidities that affect integration in employment are unskillfulness in occupational attitude and interpersonal relation as well as poor fine movements. Rehabilitation should orient toward these difficulties. The fear of seizure is one of the important distresses in about half of PWE even if the seizure is well controlled. Public awareness toward epilepsy also indirectly influences on the social life of PWE. The results of a survey conducted by Japan Epilepsy Association indicated that the correct knowledge about epilepsy should be educated in primary and junior high school. The professionals in the fields of education, medicine and welfare should especially be instructed on the correct picture of epilepsy. The driving license was issued officially to about 2000 PWE in a year that may contribute to the social integration of PWE.
Inoue
Yushi
Y
National Epilepsy Center, Shizuoka Institute of Epilepsy and Neurological Disorders.
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D009790:Occupations