KAR ACHI: Health experts, at a media briefing on Thursday, stressed the need at government level and the public at large to make concerted efforts in removing stigmas related to the burden of epilepsy, Parkinson`s disease and depression.

`A huge smirch is associated with epilepsy as it is still considered a taboo, while symptoms of Parkinson`s are considered associated with ageing process, thus they are not diagnosed accurately, said Dr Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, a professor affiliated with the psychiatry department of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

The briefing was organised at the Karachi Press Club to mark World Mental Health Day, which would be observed on Monday.

Similarly, said Dr Afridi, it was a misconception generally accepted by society that one would get addicted to medication for life if he or she opted to treat depression etc.

He said patients did not seek proper treatment for brain-related disorders thinking that they would not lead a normal life.

`Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterised by an enduring predisposition to generate epileptic seizures.

Epilepsy is amongst the second most common neurological conditions seen by neurologists.

Dr Shahid Mustafa, a consultant said epilepsy affected 50 million people worldwide, and five million of whom had seizures more than once a month.

`Lifetime prevalence of epilepsy is two to four per cent, while chance of having at least one seizure during a lifetime is eight pc. The incidence of epilepsy ishigher in children and elderly,` he said.

The experts said management of epilepsy included long-term antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy was reality for majority of patients diagnosed with epilepsy. They said AED must be selected on the basis of seizure type, spectrum of activity, tolerability, and drug interactions; and one AED would usually be sufficient to control seizures effectively, yet a significant number of patients would need multiple AED regimens.

They said Parkinson`s disease (PD) was a long-term disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affected the Motor System, and symptoms are tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia [slowness of movement and is one of the cardinal manifestations PD], and postural instability.

`It has been described as one of the most disabling chronic neurologic illnesses with significant loss in quality of life,` said Dr Yahya Aamir, a consultant psychiatrist in Lyari General Hospital.

He said an estimated seven to 10 million people worldwide lived with PD, and its prevalence increased from one pc at the ageof65tohvepcbythe ageof85.

`Prevalence of PD in Pakistan was estimated to be 40,000 in 2005, which is estimated to double [80,000] by 2030, he said.

Experts said depression was the leading cause of disability worldwide, and was one major contributor to the global burden of disease.

They added there was 50pc higher burden of depression among women than men, while it was estimated that 50pc to 85pc people had recurrent episodes af ter the first one.

Prevalence of depression co-occurring withothermedicalillnessis:heartattack 40-65pc chance; stroke survivors 10-27pc; cancer one in four people; and diabetes25pcchance.