ABSTRACT
Hasan Aziz and Zarin Mogal Epilepsy is a worldwide problem with a major impact on the personal, family,
and social life of the affected individual and also on the society. The reported preva lence rates of epilepsy in various epidemiological studies vary from 1.5 to 19.5 per 1,000 population with higher prevalence rates in developing countries.15 The aver age accepted prevalence rate is ^5 per 1000.2 Stigmatization, low literacy, sub-optimal employment, and social and economical marginalization are the commonly faced problems by people with epilepsy, both in developed and developing countries. This attitude of the public significandy contributes to high rates of anxiety, depression, dejection, feeling of deprivation, and low self-esteem in people with epilepsy.6,7 This is much more so in developing countries.8*11 Even in the present era when the civic sense of tolerance and acceptance to accommodate people with handicaps is high, people with epilepsy are socially isolated and discriminated.12,13 However, in the developing countries this social isolation and discrimination is much less when com pared to people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or leprosy.14 The encouraging aspect is, increasing acceptance of epilepsy among people with high level of eduction.15
