[Work and epilepsy--facts and phantasies]

Epilepsies can affect ability to work in a certain workplace and reintegration capacity not only due the seizures, but also due to possible accompanying neurological, neuropsychological and psychiatric symptoms. Epileptic seizures can lead to injuries of the patient himself and of other persons. Assessment of this aspect in a certain workplace requires not only a detailed knowledge of the nature of this job, but also of the semiology and frequency of seizures must be considered. Both attacks and concomitant symptoms (e.g. memory impairment, depression, etc.) have to be assessed with regard to prognosis and treatment status. As part of the patient’s duty to cooperate with the social insurance system it is expected that he is concerned about the regular intake of antiepileptic pharmacotherapy, possibly also of psychiatric medications. Epilepsy surgery is, however, not regarded as a reasonable treatment.