Epilepsy from the Patient's Perspective: Review of Results of a Community-Based Survey

A total of 1023 individuals with epilepsy responded to a community-based questionnaire survey. Relative to U.S. population norms, respondents had lower household incomes and lesser levels of educational and vocational attainment. Although 89% of respondents reported that their seizures were, in their estimation, at least somewhat controlled, 57% reported having suffered at least one seizure in the preceding year. Of the many concerns that accompanied life with epilepsy, fear (of a seizure, of embarrassment, even of death) was the issue most frequently reported. Eighty-eight percent of respondents reported having health insurance, and this insurance covered epilepsy treatment in 93% of cases. The majority of respondents said that they were satisfied with the medical care they were receiving but wished for more information about epilepsy. Despite advances in epilepsy therapy, freedom from seizures and optimal quality of life eludes many.