LIFE FULFILLMENT IN AN EPILEPSY SAMPLE FROM THE UNITED-STATES

This study examined the life fulfilment of a sample of 420 people with epilepsy drawn from affiliates of the Epilepsy Foundation of America in various urban and rural regions of the United States and also a pri vate clinic. At the time of the study, all respondents were attending hospital outpatient neurological pr epilepsy clinics for treatment, mo nitoring or advice. Life fulfilment was operationalized in terms of th e discrepancy between people's desired and actual circumstances, and t he scale developed for the research covered the following life domains : family and social relationships; leisure; worries; material security ; employment, The findings revealed that the respondents were most ful filled in the areas of family/social relationships, getting help with problems, leisure and housing. Health concerns seemed to be the prime source of non-fulfilment, with employment, marriage and money also app earing problematic. When factors associated with variations in overall life fulfilment were examined, unemployment, seizure predictability, polytherapy and living with a spouse/partner seemed to be of particula r significance. The study findings are discussed and the need to pursu e medical and vocational goals alongside each other in intervention st rategies is emphasized.