Epilepsy and self-esteem

Abstract

Introduction

Epilepsy is a public health problem that often affects personal and social patients’ life. Self-esteem, an important factor contributing to psychosocial well-being, is generally disrupted in epilepsy.

Objective

The aim of our study was to assess self-esteem and factors associated in patients suffering from epilepsy.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic study, including 20 patients followed for epilepsy at neurology outpatient department, Habib Bourguiba hospital, Sfax, Tunisia. We collected socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, and used the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES).

Results

The mean age was 35.9 ans. Sex-ratio (M/F) was 3. Hobby practice was noted in 45% of cases. The disease evolves since 19.9 years on average. A worsening of health in the last year was felt in 30% of cases. The stigma was reported in 30% of patients. Self-esteem was: very low 5%, low 40%, average 40%, and high 15%. It was better among married patients, living in family and those with disease evolving since more than 10 years, but without a significant correlation. The factors correlated with good self-esteem were: practicing a hobby (P = 0.006) and absence of stigma (P = 0.001). Poor self-esteem was significantly correlated with perceived health worsened during the last 12 months (P = 0.02). It was poor in unstable patients professionally, but without significant correlation.

Conclusion

Our study confirms the decline of self-esteem in patients with epilepsy. A better education of these patients to accept their illness, as well as raising public awareness on this affection could facilitate social insertion and improve self-esteem.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.