Quality of Life Assessment in Epilepsy Patients

Quality of life assessment in epilepsy has emerged as a pivotal component of patient-centred care, recognising that seizure control alone does not capture the full impact of the disorder. Contemporary frameworks define quality of life as a multidimensional construct encompassing physical health, emotional well-being, cognitive function, social participation and the side-effects of treatment. Standardised instruments have been developed to quantify these domains, enabling clinicians and researchers to evaluate the broader consequences of epilepsy and its therapies. Assessments often integrate generic measures of health-related quality of life with epilepsy-specific tools to ensure sensitivity to seizure-related concerns. Across diverse populations, factors such as seizure frequency, co-morbid depression and anxiety, perceived stigma, medication tolerability and socio-economic conditions have been shown to exert substantial influence on overall well-being. Cross-cultural validation and harmonisation of outcome measures remain a priority to facilitate international comparisons and multicentre trials. By systematically measuring patient-reported outcomes, practitioners can tailor interventions that address psychological distress, optimise treatment regimens and support social integration, ultimately advancing holistic management and improving long-term satisfaction with care.

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Quality of Life Assessment in Epilepsy Patients publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in quality of life assessment in epilepsy patients across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Quality of Life (QoL): A subjective, multidimensional concept reflecting an individual’s overall well-being across physical, psychological and social domains.

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL): The aspect of QoL specifically attributable to health status, including symptoms, functional abilities and emotional responses to illness and treatment.

Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO): Information on health status or treatment impact reported directly by the patient without interpretation by clinicians or others.

QOLIE-31: A validated, epilepsy-specific questionnaire comprising 31 items across multiple domains to assess quality of life in adults with epilepsy.

Core Outcome Set: An agreed minimum collection of outcomes and corresponding measurement methods intended for consistent use across studies and clinical practice.

References

1. Development of an International Standard Set of Outcomes and Measurement Methods for Routine Practice for Adults with Epilepsy: The International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement Consensus Recommendations. Epilepsia (2024).
2. Determinants of quality of life in adults with epilepsy: a multicenter, cross-sectional study from Germany. Neurological Research and Practice (2023).
3. Co-morbid mental health conditions in people with epilepsy and association with quality of life in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (2023).