Quality of life and stigma in epilepsy

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent epileptic fits and with frequent psychosocial repercussions. However divergences exist in relation to the factors influencing the quality of life (QL), the perception of well being and the happiness of adult epileptic patients.Objective: Evaluate the stigma and QL in adult epileptic patients in relation to psychiatric and clinical aspects, with emphasis on the severity of the epilepsy.Casuistry and procedures: Eighty consecutive adult patients will be included (60 with chronic epilepsy and 20 with recently initiated epilepsy), all accompanied in the clinical neurology outpatients department of PUC-Campinas, Brazil. The following will be determined: anamnesis; EEGd; quality of life in epilepsy inventory-31; epileptic fits severity scale; stigma in epilepsy scale; Hamilton anxiety and depression scales; the interictal dysphoric disorder inventory; satisfaction with life and subjective well being scales. The relationship between stigma and QL and clinical psychiatric aspects will be studied, with emphasis on the severity of the epilepsy. Statistical tests adequate to the situations will be used with a level of significance of p < 0.05. It is hoped that this knowledge will improve the strategies of attention given to adult epileptic patients. (AU)