Table 1:

Misconceptions categories identified in studies on epilepsy

	Examples
Social status / integration	Concern about socializing and befriending PWE  Concern about close physical proximity (afraid to sit beside a PWE)  PWE should be isolated  PWE cannot have normal social roles / should not participate in social activities  Objection to marriage for PWE  Concern about PWE having children  Concern about children with epilepsy associating with other children and attending regular school  Concern that children with epilepsy may not succeed in life  Perception that PWE may not be successful in specific professions  Perception that epilepsy is more common in a lower socio-economic class / Religious people have lower risk of epilepsy  PWE are responsible for their condition  Idea that one can identify a PWE by appearance  PWE may transmit the disease ( i.e. epilepsy is contagious)  PWE are a danger to the public  Being a PWE is a disgraceful condition
Employment	Concern about hiring PWE  Co-workers’ concern about working with PWE  Associate negative features to PWE as employees  Concern for safety of PWE and others in the workplace
Associated Conditions (primarily cognitive and psychiatric)	PWE have poor cognitive capacity / lower IQ / are mentally retarded  Children with epilepsy (CWE) almost always have mental or learning problems -and usually cannot be very good students  PWE have impaired self-realization/lower self-confidence  PWE have difficult personalities; aggressiveness, violence and behavioral disorders  PWE have severe psychiatric disease  PWE tend to develop and express criminal tendencies
Restrictions and limitations	PWE cannot work or number of suitable jobs for PWE is low  PWE should not drive, operate heavy machinery  PWE should not attend regular school  PWE cannot participate in sports
Cause/nature of epilepsy	Excessive suffering in childhood  Epilepsy is a blood disease / immune disease  Epilepsy is a physical deficiency / sign of weakness  Epilepsy is a form of madness or a mental disorder  Epilepsy is caused by possession or a “spell” /supernatural disease/the devil/ moon cycles  Epilepsy is punishment for past sins/past life  PWE are fated by God to have epilepsy  Is caused by bad thoughts, depression  Epilepsy is a disease that can kill  PWE have lower life expectancy
Treatment	PWE can be treated better in institutions  Epilepsy drugs have to be taken for life  Most PWE do not take epileptic drugs  Epilepsy is not curable or controllable  Treatments are teas and medicinal herbs  Faith can heal epilepsy/ask for God’s help/talismans/prayers  Acupuncture  Herbal medicine doctor/healer
First aid for seizures	Smelling something strong can end a seizure / spread vinegar or alcohol on patient’s wrist  PWE can swallow their tongue during a seizure, therefore try to pull out the tongue  Place something between their teeth  Hold the person down/try to contain, throw water at them  Necessity for immediate medical intervention in the form of an ambulance crew to stop a seizure