Quality of life issues in Epilepsy

Both anxiety and depression are common comorbid features in PWE yet psychopathology is undertreated and under diagnosed. Depression and seizure stress were discovered to be the most persuasive indicators of quality of life in individuals with intractable epilepsy. Surgery has been appeared to fundamentally decrease nervousness and increment quality of life in patients who have become seizure free. Seizure related factors, for example, period of beginning, seizure type, recurrence, seriousness, length, fundamental etiology and hard to control seizures all impact on the prevalence of depression and anxiety

Dispositional factors: Self-esteem and sense of mastery

Unpredictability is central to living with epilepsy. Individuals may not know when a seizure will occur and often have difficulty accepting living with a chronic condition that may or may not improve. This can cause patients with epilepsy to feel that they lack control over their life, can lower mood and heighten feelings of anxiety. This has been reflected in research where patients with epilepsy demonstrate a lower sense of mastery in relation to healthy controls. Low self-esteem is commonly reported in PWE and is often mediated by employability, with those being unemployed reporting poorer self-esteem.

Social factors: Social isolation and relationships

Epilepsy has been appeared to decrease open doors for social collaboration and patients with epilepsy can disengage themselves because of a paranoid fear of having a seizure in public and the injury this may cause. A decrease in social life has many perplexing outcomes regarding social help. Social help can be a defensive factor in supporting patients with epilepsy to adapt to living with a chronic condition.

Education & employment

Children with epilepsy have been shown to underachieve at school in comparison to their peers and are more prone to educational difficulties. These difficulties may arise as a consequence of a number of factors. Drug therapy and post ictal confusion may slow cognitive functioning and impact on children’s capacity to learn. Patients with epilepsy and those who have a history of epilepsy are prohibited by law from a variety of occupations. Practices that discriminate against people with epilepsy are another major contributing factor to unemployment.

Clearly enhancements in medical interventions and diagnostic procedures will have significant ramifications for the management, anticipation and psychosocial result of epilepsy and in turn improve quality of life.

Disclaimer: The views, suggestions and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Forbes India journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.