People with epilepsy: what do they know and understand, and how does this contribute to their perceived level of stigma?

Understanding the factors that contribute to the process of stigmatization of those with epilepsy may be an important element in the management of this condition. This study was designed to determine the contribution of clinical, demographic, and psychosocial variables to the stigma of epilepsy in adults. More than 6000 adults from 10 European countries were surveyed. Almost half of respondents reported that they had difficulty accepting their illness, and 17% felt stigmatized by it. A number of factors were predictive of stigma, including seizure frequency, knowledge of epilepsy, duration of epilepsy, and seizure type. The relative contributions of these factors varied depending on the country of origin of those surveyed. Further research is warranted to determine societal influences on the process of stigmatization.