[01] Neena Sawant, Department of Psychiatry, Seth G.S. Medical College, KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India. [02] Vartika Kinra, Seth G.S. Medical College, KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India.

Background: Epilepsy stigma has been considered to be one of the most important factors that have a negative influence on the people with epilepsy and their family. This research was undertaken to study the perceptions of epileptic patients and their family to the disease and its associated stigma and the impact of stigma on the quality of life of patients with epilepsy. Material &Method: Informed consent of 50 patients of epilepsy and 50 relatives coming to a tertiary care hospital was taken. A semi structured proforma along with the Stigma Scale of Epilepsy and QOLIE-31 were used to assess the stigma in medical, social and personal domains and quality of life on 7 subscales in the patients. Stigma Scale of Epilepsy for community was used to assess the perceptions of stigma expressed by the relatives of the epileptic patients. Results: Out of 50 patients stigma was perceived by 15 patients. Both patients and relatives said that epilepsy was caused by a problem in the brain and more than 70% expressed difficulties faced by a person with epilepsy at work, in marriage, driving, relationships and religion along with discrimination. Fear, pity and dependence were the feelings expressed by both patients and relatives. A highly significant difference was seen on the various subscales of QOLIE viz emotional well being, energy/fatigue, cognitive functioning, social functioning and overall quality of life with the non stigmatized patients having a better quality of life than the stigmatized patients. Conclusions: This study helps in sensitizing clinicians to the problems faced by the patients of epilepsy & in creating awareness about the same in the society in general, so that the epileptic patients are not ostracized. It would provide direction for any modification in the management protocol of epilepsy.

Epilepsy, Stigma, Quality of Life, Perceptions, Family

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