Psychosocial Burden and Stigma Perception of Jordanian Patients With Epilepsy

Abstract

Epilepsy requires long-term treatment that interferes with individuals' social relationships. Because the effects of psychosocial burden and stigma perception on patients with epilepsy in Jordan have not been explored, the study assessed the relationship among psychosocial burden, stigma of epilepsy, and demographic variables. Subjects were adult patients with epilepsy ( N = 200) registered at hospital clinics. Two published instruments were used to measure outcomes. The participants in the study perceived the burden and stigma of epilepsy as moderate. A strong, positive correlation between psychosocial burden and stigma perception among participants was found. Stigma perception, employment, and education variables explained 31.6% of variation of the level of psychosocial burden. The results showed a relationship between stigma perception and psychosocial level, and this provides information that may assist health care providers in formulating strategic plans to improve the care, safety, and quality of life of patients with epilepsy in Jordan.

The relationship between psychiatric symptoms and the use of levetiracetam in people with epilepsy

“…In many settings, mental disorders of PWE are underdiagnosed and undertreated due to lack of awareness and factors such as lack of resources and patients such as epilepsy severity, unemployment, ignorance, and stigma. 21,31 Compared to the literature, Jordanian PWE reported higher psychiatric symptoms compared to others. For example, depression and anxiety were tested in 17% among controlled PWE and more than 30% in refractory epilepsy.…”

“…[18][19][20] The study of the prevalence of different mental health symptoms and their corelates is important in the optimization of the health care service for PWE. In Jordan, very few studies have assessed mental health outcomes among PWE, 21 and the possible impact of ASMs on the psychological symptoms has been never studied before in Jordanian PWE. Consequently, the current work had two objectives: (1) to estimate the burden of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stress, and (2) to examine the association of these psychiatric/psychological symptoms with levetiracetam and other relevant clinical factors in a cohort of Jordanian PWE.…”

Social Isolation and Associated Factors in Chinese Adults With Epilepsy: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Epilepsy is one of the most common serious brain diseases and affects more than 70 million individuals worldwide ( 1 ). Epilepsy has a profound long-term impact on various aspects of social life for patients, such as social anxiety ( 2 ), poor social support ( 3 ), perceived stigma ( 4 ), psychosocial burden ( 5 ), poor social adjustment ( 6 ), impaired social cognition ( 7 ), and lack of social skills and competence ( 8 ). These negative social aspects may lead to social isolation, which has yet to be fully investigated in adults with epilepsy.…”