It has become increasingly acknowledged that the social and psychologi
cal consequences of leaving epilepsy may be more debilitating than the
seizures themselves. Recently these psychosocial aspects of epilepsy
have become the emphasis of much research, and different models for un
derstanding psychosocial consequences have become evident. In this art
icle recent research has been reviewed and has been classified as belo
nging either to a medical model or a sociological model of understandi
ng these psychosocial aspects of epilepsy. Both models have been found
to assist in understanding psychosocial aspects of epilepsy, with the
'newer' sociological approach acting as a challenge to the hegemony o
f the older, more traditional medical understanding.