Because of the nature of epilepsy—the fact that it may limit mobility if driving is restricted, or include such symptoms as refractory seizures or loss of continence—people with epilepsy may experience a myriad of psychosocial challenges. Even in the 21st century, epilepsy remains a highly stigmatized condition. Misinformation about epilepsy continues to reinforce this stigma, weakening social support for affected patients. For example, a survey of 93 human resource professionals found that, out of 10 chronic conditions or disabilities—which included cancer in remission, depression, a history of heart problems, AIDS, mild intellectual disability, spinal cord injury, and epilepsy or seizures—subjects were least likely to hire people with known epilepsy or seizures.34, 35 In addition to feeling stigmatized, people with epilepsy report having less self-efficacy for managing seizures and poor health-related quality of life,35 although health care utilization is known to be greater in this group than among the general population.8, 36 Longitudinal studies show that adults who were diagnosed with childhood epilepsy are less likely to be well educated.37 According to the American Epilepsy Society, people with epilepsy are two to three times as likely to be unemployed as the general population.

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