Consequences of severe epilepsy: psychosocial aspects.

Patients with severe epilepsy very often present a diversity of problems which interact with each other and with factors in the environment in subtle ways. Intellectual and social shortcomings as well as anxiety-related emotional problems are among the most common primary and secondary consequences seen in this patient group. Anxiety among the relatives, ignorance and prejudice in the general population often add to the patients' burdens. When seen from a developmental neuropsychological and psychological point of view the importance of early treatment must be stressed.