Media 'still links epilepsy to the devil'

Epilepsy is poorly reported in the press

The media paints an inaccurate and alarmist picture of epilepsy, researchers have found.

Neurologists at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland who screened several hundred recent popular press articles on epilepsy and seizures.

They found 31% of the sampled stories contained gross mistakes, including:

• inaccuracy about the science
• overestimates of risk of dying from seizures
• exaggerated treatment claims

Some articles even recycled ancient misconceptions linking seizures to the devil.

And nearly half (45%) of the articles used the term epileptics, which is considered offensive.

Influential role

Because of the historic stigma associated with epilepsy many of my patients continue to feel shamed or hide their disorder

Dr Gregory Krauss, John Hopkins University

Lead researcher Dr Gregory Krauss said: "The print media reflect and shape current views about epilepsy and other neurological conditions, but they also have a real potential for further misconceptions, particularly about brain disorders.

"Because of the historic stigma associated with epilepsy many of my patients continue to feel shamed or hide their disorder.

"The press perpetuates this stigma when they use demonic terms, describe typical seizures as "deathly" or even when they de-humanise them as 'epileptics'."

Dr Krauss singled out a piece in a popular sports news magazine that praised a team trainer who violently restrained a baseball player during a seizure, calling the trainer a hero.

The young man's tooth was knocked out when the coach tried to pry his jaws open.

Players were quoted who said the seizure was "killing" their team-mate or said the situation reminded them of The Exorcist.

Dr Krauss said: "Quotes like those, when used without medical context, breathe new life into old misperceptions that link convulsions with death and the devil.

"They also ignore the established medical warning against restraining people in the midst of a seizure."

If people feel ashamed about their medical condition they will be much more likely to try to cover it up

Dr Faraneh Vargha-Khadem, Great Ormond Street Hospital

Dr Faraneh Vargha-Khadem, an expert in epilepsy from Great Ormond Street Hospital, said the media had an important role to play in raising awareness of epilepsy - but it was vital that it portrayed accurate facts.

She said: "If people feel ashamed about their medical condition they will be much more likely to try to cover it up and not to seek help which can be disastrous - particularly in the case of children."

The research, which examined 210 stories from 73 news sources and 12 news wire services, is published in the journal Neurology.