Epilepsy in Niger: An overview of the current situation

Daouda, Moussa Toudou

doi:10.1002/epi4.12742

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The detrimental impact on social life can significantly impact the psychological well-being of patients. Psychosocial problems are more prevalent, particularly in underdeveloped and developing countries, and stigma is considered to be a significant contributing factor [36,71,72].…”

Section: Epilepsy and Psychosocial Problemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stigma and psychosocial problems in patients with epilepsy

Yeni

2023

Explor Neurosci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Epilepsy, a prevalent neurological disorder, is characterized by chronic seizures resulting from abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Adequate medical treatment allows roughly 70% of patients to enjoy a seizure-free life. However, throughout history, epilepsy has acquired diverse interpretations due to the experienced seizures, transforming the condition from a clinical issue into a social stigma. Therefore, the aim of this review study is to review stigma and psychosocial problems in patients with epilepsy (PwE). For this reason, this study utilises sources from the last ten years and reports current data. As a result of the review, it was found that societal discrimination in PwE arises primarily from inadequate knowledge, misconceptions, and negative attitudes toward the condition. Other contributing factors were include patients’ lower levels of education and income, frequent seizures due to inadequate treatment, age at onset, duration of the disease, depressive symptoms, and lack of social support. Also, it was found that the stigma individuals with epilepsy face plays a pivotal role in exacerbating their psychosocial problems. Unfortunately, stigma and psychosocial challenges appear to be in a vicious circle, with an increase in one increasing the other. Stigmatized patients tended to isolate themselves from society, further increasing their likelihood of experiencing a depressive mood or psychiatric comorbidity. Consequently, individuals with epilepsy encounter difficulties in various domains such as marriage, work, education, and personal life. Considering these significant psychosocial burdens, it is essential to recognize that epilepsy surpasses its medical implications. Unfortunately, current efforts to reduce stigma remain insufficient, necessitating urgent and comprehensive measures to address this issue.

show abstract