Epilepsy: An Analysis of the Disorder

Epilepsy is more of a general term that encompasses many disorders. According to Sue, Sue, and Sue(1990), the term refers to particular symptoms that may be a primary disorder or a symptom of other disorders, such as, head injuries, brain tumors, degenerative diseases, or even drugs. The characteristics of this illness, caused by excessive electrical discharge from neurons, include an altered state of consciousness and seizures. It is considered the most common neurological disorder, affecting one to two per cent of the population at least once in their lifetime. Some of the more well known epileptics include Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Vincent van Gogh (Sue & Sue, 1990).

This disease can be traced back to ancient times according to Temkin(1971). Many ancient texts describe symptoms that are associated with epilepsy today. Because this disease involves altered states of consciousness along with physical and psychological symptoms, it has often been looked upon as the result of supernatural activity. It was, however, one of the earliest neurological disorders to be recognized as a disease. Temkin(1971) mentions that there is an account documented, in a Mesopotamian text, of a person who became tense with his eyes open wide, and began frothing at the mouth before losing consciousness. In ancient Egypt and ancient Greece, this disorder was referred to as 'the sacred disease.' It played a special part in the superstition of the time (Temkin, 1945/1971).