[Occupational integration of patients with epilepsy]

An overview is given initially of study findings pertaining to unemployment, work history and workplace experiences of people with epilepsy (disclosure, job reallocation, sick leaves, up-/downgrading, accidents). The author then describes new approaches to improving the vocational integration of persons with epilepsy, by focussing on the one hand on extending the range of occupational assessment, and the adoption of new job placement assessment, and the adoption of new job placement strategies on the other, which concurrently seek to influence those factors that are detrimental to the occupational outlook of the person with a seizure disorder (notably frequent seizures, psychiatric problems, low educational levels, negative employer attitudes). It is suggested that the feasibility of these new strategies, developed and field-tested primarily in the Anglo-American countries, should be verified within the social-legislational context of the Federal Republic of Germany.