METHODS: The Epilepsy Self-Stigma Scale was translated into the Malay (ESSS-M) and Chinese versions (ESSS-C) according to standard principles and were tested in 100 Malay and 100 Chinese-speaking people with epilepsy (PWE) respectively. Psychometric evaluations were done based on equal item variance, convergent and discriminant validity, construct validity and reliability. Correlation analyses were carried out between the ESSS and the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7).

RESULTS: For the ESSS-M, 100 Malay-speaking PWE with a mean age of 42.25 years (±15.18) were recruited. Exploratory factor analysis identified eight items loaded on three factors: "Internalization of stigma", "Societal incomprehension", and "Confidentiality". However, item 1 was loaded under a different component from the initial paper, conceptualized as confidentiality. For the ESSS-C, 100 Chinese-speaking participants with a mean age of 41.07 years (±15.57). Exploratory factor analysis identified three loading factors similar to the original scale: "Internalization of stigma", "Societal incomprehension", and "Confidentiality". Both ESSS-M and ESSS-C scales showed significant correlations with NDDI-E and GAD-7 scores, showcasing substantial construct validity. The Cronbach's alpha values were α = 0.822 for the ESSS-M and α = 0.831 for the ESSS-C.

METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, adults with epilepsy were assessed using the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E), Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Epilepsy Self-Stigma Scale (ESSS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Work Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation Scale (WEIMS), and Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory-31 (QOLIE-31). Participants screening positive for depression and/or severe anxiety symptoms were offered psychiatric referral. Group comparisons and Pearson correlation analyses were performed.