Epilepsia
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To examine the long-term psychosocial outcomes of a consecutive series of patients who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) compared with medically managed patients. This study focused primarily on actual long-term changes (mean, 5 years) in life performance. There are relatively few long-term controlled studies of actual lifetime performance changes. ⋯ Compared with medical management, surgery has a significant positive impact on psychosocial outcomes in terms of employment, independent living, driving, and financial independence. Additionally, a person does not necessarily have to be seizure free to achieve positive changes in psychosocial outcomes.
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Most people in the world with epilepsy are untreated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). In some developing countries, this is because treatment facilities are unavailable or difficult to access. It has even been suggested that indigenous health systems threaten the prospect of the global control of epilepsy with AEDs. We have investigated patterns and costs of help seeking for children with epilepsy in a region of rural India where only 12% of children with epilepsy were in treatment. Our objective was to find out (a) whom families had consulted; (b) if nonconsulting families differed in demographic or child medical factors; (c) if indigenous treatment was taken, exclusive of allopathic treatment; and (d) the direct and indirect cost of various providers. ⋯ Most families sought some form of help and were motivated to spend large amounts of money and time for allopathic treatments from qualified practitioners. The typical cost of allopathic treatment was unsustainable in the long term. Medical pluralism is common and does not adversely influence use of allopathic treatment. The phenomenon of nonconsulting merits further study. Traditional practitioners play a complementary role and might become involved in community treatment programs. Low-cost, local treatment is essential to the public health control of epilepsy.