Warning of 'negative attitudes' to epilepsy

Myths surrounding epilepsy often cause more distress to people with the condition than the condition itself, it has been claimed. A new survey has found that one person in five would not employ somebody with epilepsy even though the illness is treatable.

Speaking on European Epilepsy Day yesterday, Epilepsy Ireland deputy chief executive Peter Murphy said “poor and negative attitudes towards epilepsy” persisted and had a huge impact on the quality of the lives of those with epilepsy. Brainwave, a charity that helps people with epilepsy, changed its name yesterday to Epilepsy Ireland. A representative sample of Irish adults found half the public believed there was still a stigma surrounding the condition.

Commenting on the survey, Mr Murphy said that although epilepsy was the most common serious neurological condition in Ireland and there had been considerable advances in treatment, public awareness and understanding of the condition “remains poor, and negative attitudes towards epilepsy are a major challenge for many people living with the condition”.