The Effect of Intrafamily Discord on the Prognosis of Epilepsy

In many cases of epilepsy, the seizures themselves may be controlled by treatment or are not incapacitating, and yet the patient is unable to make a satisfactory social and economic adjustment. The emotional handicaps produced by any chronic disease have long been recognized. In regard to epilepsy, however, faulty attitudes such as shame, over-protectiveness, over-strictness, etc., on the part of the patient's family constitute a particularly serious barrier to recovery. Typical case histories are presented, and suggestions are made as to methods of correcting the attitudes at fault.