Familial epilepsies: quality of life issues in genetic research

Recent major advances in understanding the clinical and molecular genetics of epilepsies have come from the twin and family studies conducted to help unravel this complex group of conditions. Analysis of familial epilepsies also provides unique insights into quality of life issues, because genetic and environmental factors are largely controlled in these studies. A brief review of the genetics of epilepsy is presented, with emphasis on quality of life issues from the perspective of the daily lives of patients with familial epilepsies and on issues regarding clinical research in such families.