Epilepsy and well-being

Abstract

This study examined the association between social, psychological and physical well-being and a range of epilepsy-related and socio-demographic variables in a sample of people with epilepsy. A questionnaire method was used and the sample of 392 people with epilepsy was drawn from urban and rural epilepsy support groups in several regions of Great Britain and Ireland, and a hospital out-patients' population. The findings revealed that people's perceptions of themselves and of their epilepsy were the variables most strongly related to overall well-being, and that seizure frequency, time since diagnosis, a diagnosis of absence seizures and being employed full-time also seemed of some importance. The study's findings have implications for the management of people with epilepsy and suggest that ratings of subjective experience could be usefully incorporated into future research on social and psychological aspects of seizure disorders and other disabilities.