Abstracts

A follow-up evaluation of patients of a specialized rehabilitation unit for people with epilepsy showed significant improvements for epilepsy related fear, emotional adaptation, physical and emotional health, however only weak effects for perceived stigma (PS) (3). Using data from the same cohort, this study aims to get more insight into the association of clinical, neuropsychological and psychosocial variables with PS. Ninety-six consecutive non-surgical patients with epilepsy (mean age, 35 years, 66% male) completed a validated questionnaire (PESOS) before admission (2, 3). PESOS includes a 4 item PS scale. During the rehabilitation program, all patients underwent comprehensive epileptological, neuropsychological and psychiatric evaluation. Associations between PS and clinical respectively psychosocial variables were tested with univariate methods (p [lt] .05, two tailed). Mean duration of epilepsy was 17.5 years. 24% of the patients were seizure-free ([gt]6 months) on admission. 75% of the patients reported more or less pronounced PS. There were strong relations between PS and emotional adaptation, self esteem, and perceived restrictions because of one[apos]s epilepsy (all, p[lt].01). No association between PS and psychiatric co-morbidity or partnership was found. However PS was higher in patients with early onset of epilepsy, neuropsychological deficits or epilepsy related fears. Patients holding a driving license felt less stigmatized than those who did not. There were however no differences between patients who were actually driving/not driving because of their epilepsy. PS was associated with difficulties to address one[apos]s epilepsy when being with other persons, and with the number of friends and frequency of contacts. Our findings are in accordance with the literature, showing that PS is a common finding in chronic epilepsy, with strong associations of PS with emotional variables however only weak associations with seizure frequency (1). They underline the importance of holding a driving license and also of neuropsychological deficits for PS. Finally they demonstrate clearly that PS is associated with social isolation.
References:
1. Jacoby A. Epilepsy Behav 3, 6S2 (2002) S10-S20
2. May TW, et al. PESOS-Fragebogen fuer Menschen mit Epilepsie. Z Epileptol 2004, 17(4):287-300
3. Specht U, et al. Epilepsia 2004, 45, Suppl 7: 57 (Supported by the society for epilepsy research, Bielefeld, Germany.)