Psychiatric and social complications of epilepsy in Nigerians

Seventy-three epileptic patients (22 children and 51 older patients) presenting at a Psychiatric Unit over a 2-year period were studied prospectively. Eighty percent presented after an interval of over one year following onset of the disorder, 40% after an interval of over five years. The majority had sought treatment elsewhere prior to presentation, usually from traditional and religious healers. Commonest seizure type was generalized grand mal. Adverse effects on schooling, occupation and marriage were common. Over 90% of the children and 65% of the adults had one or more forms of mental disorder. The implications of these findings are discussed.