Child behavioural problems in epilepsy originate from a poorly understood interplay between intrinsic, family and social factors. We re-analysed data from a randomized controlled trial of antiepileptic treatment in rural India, using regression analysis to find risk factors for behavioural problems. Parental satisfaction with social support was positively and independently correlated with child behavioural problems (P=0.03). Our findings suggest parents' interactions within their informal social support network, contrary to expectation, may increase risk for behavioural problems in their children. We suggest a possible explanation for this correlation as well as follow-up studies to investigate the social support-as-risk factor hypothesis.