Epilepsy: patient perceptions of their condition.

The objective of this study was to ascertain the perceptions of people with epilepsy about their condition. Nine hundred and eight questionnaires were sent to members of epilepsy associations, with a 45% response rate, and 625 questionnaires were sent to neurologists for their patients to complete, with a response rate of 16.5%. The results reinforce and extend previous observations that there is an ongoing need for educating health care professionals and persons with epilepsy about the condition. Matters pertaining to driving, the unpredictability of seizures, lack of employment and cognitive difficulties were of major concern to the respondents. The present data also highlighted the vexed relationship between stress and seizure control, which needs to be further investigated. These data should be of value to doctors and other health care professionals in their dealings with people with epilepsy. It should also provide epilepsy associations with data upon which they might be able to plan education services.