THE EFFECT OF INTRAFAMILY DISCORD ON THE PROGNOSIS OF EPILEPSY
JERRY C. PRICE M. D.1, and
TRACY J. PUTNAM M. D.1
1 The Neurological Institute of New York and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York City.
In many cases of epilepsy, the seizures themselves may be controlled by treatment or are not incapacitating, and yet the patient is unable to make a satisfactory social and economic adjustment. The emotional handicaps produced by any chronic disease have long been recognized. In regard to epilepsy, however, faulty attitudes such as shame, over-protectiveness, over-strictness, etc., on the part of the patient's family constitute a particularly serious barrier to recovery. Typical case histories are presented, and suggestions are made as to methods of correcting the attitudes at fault.
