OBJECTIVE: Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, exhibiting variance in prevalence and treatment availability across diverse geopolitical contexts and cultural milieus. The stigma associated with epilepsy is a significant global issue affecting the quality of life (QOL) of people with epilepsy (PWE). This study aims to examine the relationship between self-stigma and depressive symptoms in PWE, with a particular emphasis on understanding the manifestations of these across different cultural contexts. We aim to enhance the provision of customized care to diverse cultural settings, fostering the adoption of healthier lifestyles for PWE.
METHODS: We recruited PWE who received treatment at specialized medical facilities for epilepsy in Japan, Malaysia (Chinese, Malay), and Turkey from February to October 2023. The Epilepsy Self-Stigma Scales (ESSS), Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) in local languages were used to assess self-stigma, depressive symptoms, and anxiety.
RESULTS: The ESSS total scores were significantly higher among the Turkish and Japanese cohorts (F [3, 406] = 6.57, p
* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.