The study examined the self-esteem, life fulfillments, social and interpersonal difficulties, general physical health, worries, and happiness of 392 adults with epilepsy using various psychometric instruments. A questionnaire method was used, and the sample was drawn from urban and rural epilepsy support groups in several regions of Great Britain and Ireland and a hospital outpatient population. The findings indicated general low well-being among the epilepsy sample when compared with a nonepilepsy sample matched for age and sex. Factors associated with high and low well-being within the epilepsy sample were also investigated. People's perceptions of themselves and of their epilepsy were strongly related to overall well-being, and seizure frequency, ratings of certainty of diagnosis, time since diagnosis, and a diagnosis of absence seizures also seemed of some significance. From a range of background factors, only employment status showed any significant association with well-being. The research findings have implications for the management of people with epilepsy and suggest that ratings of subjective experience could be usefully incorporated into future research into the quality of life of people with epilepsy.

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Summary. There has been little documented information concerning teachers' views about creativity. In this study, 1028 teachers and further education lecturers from England and Wales completed a survey questionnaire on views of creativity and its development, together with teaching style preferences. Socio‐biographical information and teachers' perceptions of their situations were collected, to locate views in context. The study employed original measures as well as the Torrance “Ideal Pupil” and “Personality” checklists. A subsample of 31 took part in follow‐up interviews. Results indicate that creativity is perceived mainly in terms of “imagination”, “originality” and “self‐expression”. Only half the sample regard “divergence” as synonymous with creativity. Most think creativity can be developed, but almost three‐quarters think it is a rare gift. The distinguishing feature of teachers highly oriented to creativity is a preference for pupil‐centred learning. Results also highlight widespread teacher concern about their situation and the future of education. Marked differences in response patterns are evident between males and females and among subject groups, both with regard to views of creativity and teaching style preferences. Possible explanations of these differences are discussed.

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Generic prescribing for epilepsy remains controversial. This study aimed to ascertain if a change occurred in the incidence of seizures or side-effects when a different pharmaceutical manufacturer's version of the same antiepileptic drug was taken (a 'switch'). Forty general practices with a list size of 350 168 were recruited. They identified 2285 people being treated for epilepsy with either carbamazepine, phenytoin or sodium valproate. A questionnaire was sent to the people with epilepsy. Those who recalled taking a different pharmaceutical manufacturer's supply of the same antiepileptic drug over the last 2 years were interviewed by their practice if they reported a problem with the control of their epilepsy after a 'switch'. One thousand, three hundred and thirty-three (58.8%) people with epilepsy responded: 251 (18.7%) had experienced a 'switch', 27 (10.8%) reported 'validated' problems; 25 (9.9%) reported unproven problems; 22 (8.8%) reported problems, but follow-up was incomplete; 177 (70.5%) reported no problems. This study suggests that money saved by generic prescribing is outweighed by negative health gain for the person with epilepsy, increased work in general practice, and increased social costs.