Myths and misunderstandings – information for prison staff

Epileptic personality

One of the many myths about epilepsy is that there is an epileptic personality. Some people’s epilepsy can be caused by damage to the brain. It is this damage, rather than the epilepsy, that can, in some cases, cause the person to behave inappropriately or differently to people in general. People with epilepsy are really just like anyone else – except that they sometimes have seizures.

Aggression

There’s no evidence that people with epilepsy are likely to be more, or less, aggressive than other people. Aggression can, occasionally, be part of a seizure. Here, the person is unlikely to be able to perform a deliberately aggressive act. In their confused state, however, they may be aggressive in response to what they interpret as aggression from someone else. They are not consciously being aggressive. Some people with epilepsy can have mood disturbances before, between or after seizures.

Stigma

Over the years, attitudes to epilepsy have changed – for the better. But it’s still the case that epilepsy can carry a stigma. Epilepsy needs to be handled sensitively. Although openness is the best policy, not everyone will want others to know they have epilepsy. In some cultures and religions, there is the belief that someone with epilepsy is possessed or being punished for something they did in a former life.