2017 Volume 35 Issue 1 Pages 55-65
The aim of this study was to comparatively examine the social benefits of epilepsy treatment and degree of satisfaction with current treatment in patients and families according to the differences in clinical symptoms of patients with epilepsy. Social benefits were evaluated using willingness to pay (WTP). A web survey was conducted, and a total of 932 valid responses were obtained from patients receiving antiepileptic drugs and their families. The average WTP in addition to current self-payment for new therapy that can achieve ideal condition without seizures was the highest at 26,214 yen/month in patients with daily seizures followed by 23,438 yen/month in those with weekly seizures, 22,553 yen/month in those with depression, and 19,645 in those whose age at first seizure onset was 20 to 39 years. The degree of satisfaction with current treatment was relatively low among patients with frequent seizures and/or multiple complications.
