Stigma and Quality of Life in Epilepsy
Summary
Stigma in epilepsy encompasses negative beliefs, prejudices and discriminatory behaviours directed at people with the condition. It may be manifest as public stigma, self-stigma or enacted stigma, each adversely affecting social participation, mental health and adherence to treatment. Cultural attitudes, socioeconomic status and disease severity all shape these experiences. Self-stigma, the internalisation of negative public views, undermines self-esteem and can lead to social withdrawal. Enacted stigma in employment, education and healthcare settings restricts opportunities and exacerbates isolation. Quality of life in epilepsy is multidimensional, encompassing emotional well-being, social relationships, cognitive function and physical health. Stigma erodes each of these domains, heightening anxiety and depression and reducing treatment adherence. Measurement scales have evolved to capture different facets of stigma and quality of life, enabling tailored interventions. Psychosocial approaches—such as cognitive-behavioural therapy, peer support and community education—alongside policy measures to reduce structural discrimination, have shown promise in improving outcomes. Globally, anti-stigma campaigns and culturally adapted support models are increasingly recognised as essential to enhance the lived experience of people with epilepsy and their families.
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Stigma and Quality of Life in Epilepsy publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in stigma and quality of life in epilepsy across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Public stigma: Societal negative attitudes and stereotypes directed at individuals with epilepsy.
Self-stigma: Internalisation of public stigma, leading to reduced self-esteem and self-efficacy.
Felt stigma: The anticipation or fear of being discriminated against, regardless of actual occurrences.
Fractional anisotropy: A measure of white matter integrity derived from diffusion tensor imaging, indicating directional water diffusion in the brain.
Quality of life: A multidimensional concept encompassing physical health, psychological state, social relationships and personal beliefs.
References
- Perceived stigma, discrimination and psychological problems among patients with epilepsy. Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022).
- Self-perceived burden and associated factors in Chinese adult epilepsy patients: A cross-sectional study. Frontiers in Neurology (2022).
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