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Vocational and Educational Problems of Epileptic Patients
Author(s) -
RODIN E.,
RENNICK P.,
DENNERLL R.,
LIN Y.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
epilepsia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.687
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1528-1167
pISSN - 0013-9580
DOI - 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1972.tb04562.x
Subject(s) - vocational education , socialization , psychology , discriminant function analysis , rehabilitation , stigma (botany) , referral , psychiatry , medicine , developmental psychology , physical therapy , family medicine , pedagogy , machine learning , computer science
SUMMARY The results of a study to elicit factors which are associated with an epileptic patient's gaining and keeping employment are presented. Eighty‐seven employed patients were compared with 90 unemployed patients on a wide variety of variables. It was found that the employed patients had higher intelligence, less impairment on neuro‐psychological tests, less neurological and electroencephalographic abnormalities, and their work history was considerably better than that of the unemployed group. A step‐wise discriminant function analysis revealed that the most powerful predictors for employment success were: high motivation for work, good verbal IQ, a self confidence item, and the patient's present level of socialization. A review of the type of employment held by our patients, when compared against the total labor force and the minority labor force (Negro citizens) of the Detroit Metropolitan area, showed that the epileptic patients tend to be similar to the minority labor force, clustering in the lower socio‐economic brackets. It was felt that discrimination against both groups is probably only one common denominator. Another, possibly a more important one, is inadequate schooling which results in failure to acquire the skills needed for living successfully in a highly technological, complex, competitive society. It is pointed out that although the majority of epileptic children attend regular schools, their grades tend to be below average and that they are not being prepared for entering the competitive job market. Suggestions how to improve this situation through rehabilitation efforts during the school years and how to more effectively remove the stigma from the illness are also presented.