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• Vol.44 No.11
• CLINICA NEUROL, 44: 865−867, 2004
• Vol.44 No.11 contents

The 45th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Neurology

Social aspects of epilepsy: marriage, pregnancy, driving, antiepileptic drug withdrawal and against social stigma

Sadatoshi Tsuji, M.D.

Department of Neurology, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Medicine

Persons with epilepsy need adequate advice and effective counselling about issues such as marriage, pregnancy, risks of inheriting epilepsy, driving, employment and antiepileptic drug withdrawal, because these persons are not receiving important information and education about their condition and possible adverse effects of treatment. Furthermore, women with epilepsy have increased rates of pregnancy complications and poor fetal outcomes including congenital malformations and developmental delay related to both their epilepsy and antiepileptic drugs. However, approximately 90% of all women with epilepsy undergo normal pregnancy and give birth to children free of birth defects. Pregnancy is generally safe in women with epilepsy.
The study of long-term prognosis of childhood-onset epilepsy in Japan shows that the majority of these patients have lower levels of educational background as well as employment and marital status compared with the general population (Wakamoto H. et al).
Of patients with epilepsy, 60% to 70% achieve control with antiepileptic medication. However, several antiepileptic drug withdrawal studies show variable rates of success, with relapse rates ranging from 12% to 63% (Britton J.W.).
Driving is listed as major problem in persons with epilepsy. However, the patients with seizure-free more than two years have been able to get the driver's license since June, 2002.
Social attitudes towards epilepsy cause more distress to the patient than the disease itself. We should realize that persons with epilepsy are normal or near-normal. To ameliorate the social stigma against epilepsy, continuous and repetitive educational efforts would be needed.

(CLINICA NEUROL, 44: 865−867, 2004)
key words: Epilepsy, marriage, pregnancy, antiepileptic drug withdrawal, social stigma

(Received: 14-May-04)