Epilepsy

Program Description:

Epilepsy is one of the most common diseases in the world and about 6 to 10 people per thousands of population in Asia and Europe suffer active epilepsy. According to the statistics, about 450 to 750 thousand people in Iran suffer from epilepsy. In addition to affecting patient’s health, epilepsy also impacts other aspects of their life and even their family, including psychological effects (high incidence of depression, anxiety and suicide), social effects (unemployment, education problems) and negative family effects resulting from the disease. Hence, it is necessary to consider patients with epilepsy in different ways and to examine and treat their different problems under the supervision of experienced staff. The importance of this issue is twofold given that about one-third of epileptic patients are resistant to antiepileptic medications. In other words, for all patients with epilepsy especially those resistant to medication, it is important to care about various aspects including optimal medical therapy, surgical treatment, psychological problems, etc. Therefore, having a comprehensive teaching health/research facility on epilepsy and access to expert physicians in the field of epilepsy seems essential.