Quality of Life Issues in Epilepsy

Chapter outline There is overwhelming evidence that people with epilepsy (PWE) have a number of psychosocial difficulties which impact greatly on their quality of life [1]. To this end the chapter will summarise some definitive clinical features of the disorder and then go on to provide an overview of the types of psychosocial deficits that PWE experience and the influence of epilepsy related variables on these factors. The chapter will conclude by considering interventions that may alleviate the burden of psychosocial problems

Social cognition in epilepsy

There is a paucity of research which has investigated social cognition in epilepsy, this is surprising given the abundance of evidence that exists in relation to the difficulties that people with epilepsy (PWE) have in relation to social functioning (McCagh et al., 2009). The study of social cognition in epilepsy will lead to a greater understanding of the social cognitive deficits of the epileptic condition. This may in turn lead to more effective psychological interventions to enable the smoother functioning of people with epilepsy in society. The aim of this chapter is to provide a detailed critical review of research which has investigated socio-cognitive functioning in people with epilepsy to date. Throughout the chapter, the impact of epilepsy related variables in relation to socio-cognitive processing will be considered. The final part of the chapter will explore why people with epilepsy may have social cognitive deficits and will go on to summarise limitations in past research. The chapter will conclude by providing the rationale and aims of the author’s current research in this area and suggestions for future work

Epilepsy: Myths, Stereotypes and Stigma.

This article will discuss how epilepsy has been perceived throughout history and across different cultures. The chapter will highlight how historical conceptions of epilepsy and misrepresentation in the media have perpetuated current stereotypical perceptions of the disorder. Consequently, misconceptions about epilepsy serve to propagate discrimination and stigma toward people with the condition. The myths that surround epilepsy will be explored emphasising how misconception, discrimination and stigma affect the quality of life of people with the condition. Myths, stigma and stereotypes can result in multiple interrelated psychosocial outcomes which can impede the cohesive integration of people with epilepsy in society. The impact of these factors on important psychosocial outcomes such as self esteem, depression, anxiety, employability, opportunities for social interaction and interpersonal relationships will be discussed. The chapter will explore these outcomes highlighting how society can be effective in engendering positive attitudes towards people with epilepsy. To conclude, educational interventions aimed at people with epilepsy, their families, employers, teachers and society at large will be considered along with future research suggestions with a view to reduce the impact of stigma and improve the social functioning of people with epilepsy

Eplilepsy: Classification, aetiology and management

Abstract This chapter will outline the prevalence and incidence rates for epilepsy and the criteria for classifying seizures and epileptic syndromes. The aetiology of epilepsy and how it is managed with particular emphasis on drug therapy and the side effects associated with taking antiepileptic medication will be discussed in detail. The chapter aims to provide an account of the physiological characteristics and the theoretical and practical perspectives which underlie the condition, thereby permitting a more complete understanding of research literature in this area

Epilepsy, stereotypes, stigma and psychosocial consequences.

This chapter will discuss how epilepsy has been perceived throughout history and across different cultures. The chapter will highlight how historical conceptions of epilepsy and misrepresentation in the media have perpetuated current stereotypical perceptions of the disorder. Consequently, misconceptions about epilepsy serve to propagate discrimination and stigma toward people with the condition. The myths that surround epilepsy will be explored emphasising how misconception, discrimination and stigma affect the quality of life of people with the condition. Myths, stigma and stereotypes can result in multiple interrelated psychosocial outcomes which can impede the cohesive integration of people with epilepsy in society. The impact of these factors on important psychosocial outcomes such as self esteem, depression, anxiety, employability, opportunities for social interaction and interpersonal relationships will be discussed. The chapter will explore these outcomes highlighting how society can be effective in engendering positive attitudes towards people with epilepsy. To conclude, educational interventions aimed at people with epilepsy, their families, employers, teachers and society at large will be considered along with future research suggestions with a view to reduce the impact of stigma and improve the social functioning of people with epilepsy

Epilepsy, psychosocial and cognitive functioning

This article will provide an overview of the psychosocial and cognitive problems that people with epilepsy (PWE) experience as consequence of the condition and its treatment. Psychosocial problems will be discussed in light of how they impact on quality of life. The review will discuss the stigma, myths and stereotypes that PWE encounter and the implications of these for important psychological outcomes including; anxiety, depression, self esteem, sense of mastery and cognitive dysfunction. The latter part of the article will focus on psychosocial factors including social isolation, interpersonal and family relationships and employment. The overall aim is to provide the reader with a general overview of the sort of factors that can impede social functioning in PWE with particular emphasis on the problems encountered in adults

Links between Child Shyness and Indices of Internalizing Problems during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Protective Role of Positivity

Shyness in childhood has been linked to socio-emotional difficulties such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness. On the contrary, positivity (i.e., a personal tendency to see oneself, life, and future in a positive light) has been described as a protective factor. Given the challenges experienced by children during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., closure of school and confinement), we aimed to test the potential protective role of positivity and how it may link child shyness and indices of internalizing problems (i.e., anxiety, depression, loneliness) during the first wave of the pandemic. Participants were N = 236 children (Mage = 9.25 years, SD = 1.20) from Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, the three worst-hit countries in Europe when the data were collected (April-June, 2020). Children completed online self-evaluation scales to assess temperamental shyness, positivity, and indices of internalizing problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results from a multivariate regression analysis revealed significant interaction effects between shyness and positivity in the prediction of outcome variables. Follow-up simple slope analyses indicated that shyness was positively related to depression only among children with lower levels of positivity. The study highlights the role of children’s positivity in buffering the pernicious link between shyness and their negative feelings during the pandemic. The practical implications of these findings are discussed