02544nas a2200409   4500000000100000008004100001100001200042700001500054700001200069700001100081700001200092700001600104700001100120700001700131700001200148700001300160700001200173700001100185700001900196700001600215700001100231700001100242700001300253700001500266700001300281700001100294700001100305700001500316700001300331700001700344700001500361245009000376300001200466490000700478520163500485022001402120       2016                            d1 aSingh G1 aPauranik A1 aMenon B1 aPaul B1 aSelai C1 aChowdhury D1 aGoel D1 aSrinivas H V1 aVohra H1 aDuncan J1 aKhona K1 aModi M1 aMehndiratta MM1 aKharbanda P1 aGoel P1 aShah P1 aBansal R1 aAddlakha R1 aThomas S1 aJain S1 aShah U1 aSaxena V S1 aSharma V1 aNadkarni V V1 aWakankar Y00aThe dilemma of arranged marriages in people with epilepsy. An expert group appraisal.  a242-2470 v613 a<p><strong>INTRODUCTION: </strong>Matrimony remains a challenging psychosocial problem confronting people with epilepsy (PWE). People with epilepsy are less likely to marry; however, their marital prospects are most seriously compromised in arranged marriages.</p>

<p><strong>AIMS: </strong>The aim of this study was to document marital prospects and outcomes in PWE going through arranged marriage and to propose optimal practices for counseling PWE contemplating arranged marriage.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>A MEDLINE search and literature review were conducted, followed by a cross-disciplinary meeting of experts to generate consensus.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>People with epilepsy experience high levels of felt and enacted stigma in arranged marriages, but the repercussions are heavily biased against women. Hiding epilepsy is common during marital negotiations but may be associated with poor medication adherence, reduced physician visits, and poor marital outcome. Although divorce rates are generally insubstantial in PWE, divorce rates appear to be higher in PWE undergoing arranged marriages. In these marriages, hiding epilepsy during marital negotiations is a risk factor for divorce.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>In communities in which arranged marriages are common, physicians caring for PWE are best-equipped to counsel them about their marital prospects. Marital plans and aspirations should be discussed with the family of the person with epilepsy in a timely and proactive manner. The benefits of disclosing epilepsy during marital negotiations should be underscored.</p>
  a1525-5069