Sang-Ahm Lee1, Su-Hyun Han2, Yang-Je Cho3, Keun Tae Kim4, Ji-Eun Kim5, Dong Jin Shin6, Jong-Geun Seo7, Young-Soo Kim8, Han Uk Ryu9, Seo-Young Lee10, Jung Bin Kim11, Kyung-Wook Kang12, Shinhye Kim13, Soonhak Kwon7, Joonsik Kim4, Sunjun Kim9, Hyo Jeong Kim6, So-Hee Eun14, Yun Jung Hur15, Sun Ah Choi16, Mi-Sun Yum17, Soyoung Park18, Jee Hyun Kim19, Gha Hyun Lee20, Young Mi Kim20, Kyoung Jin Hwang21, Eun Young Kim22, Gyu Min Yeon23. 1. Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: salee@amc.seoul.kr. 2. Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 4. Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Keimyung University College of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea. 5. Department of Neurology, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea. 6. Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Republic of Korea. 7. Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea. 8. Department of Neurology, Changwon Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Changwon, Republic of Korea. 9. Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Republic of Korea. 10. Department of Neurology, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Republic of Korea. 11. Department of Neurology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 12. Department of Neurology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Kwangju, Republic of Korea. 13. Department of Pediatrics, Myongji Hospital, Goyang, Republic of Korea. 14. Department of Pediatrics, Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Republic of Korea. 15. Department of Pediatrics, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Pusan, Republic of Korea. 16. Department of Pediatrics, Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Bundang, Republic of Korea. 17. Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 18. Department of Pediatrics, Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Republic of Korea. 19. Department of Neurology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Republic of Korea. 20. Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan, Republic of Korea. 21. Department of Neurology, Kyunghee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 22. Department of Pediatrics, Kwangju Christian Hospital, Kwangju, Republic of Korea. 23. Department of Pediatrics, Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Literature regarding family stigma related to epilepsy is scarce. This study investigated the prevalence of family stigma and depressive symptoms and the associated factors among the family members of patients with epilepsy. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, Stigma Scale-Revised score ≥ 4 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥ 10 were considered indicative of moderate-to-severe stigma and depressive symptoms, respectively. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of the 482 family members, a mean age was 47.1 ± 9.4 years, and 73.4% were female. Of the patients, a mean age was 25.5 ± 16.7 years, and 45.0% were female. Idiopathic generalized epilepsy and focal epilepsy were noted in 22.4% and 65.6% of patients, respectively. Family stigma and depressive symptoms were noted in 10.0% and 11.2% of family members, respectively. Family stigma was significantly associated with high seizure frequency and being a sibling or offspring of a patient independent of their depressive symptoms. By contrast, depressive symptoms in family members were significantly associated with polytherapy, being parents of a patient, and neurological comorbidities independent of family stigma. In a subset of patients and their family, patients had higher proportion of stigma and depressive symptoms than their family. Depressive symptoms and stigma among patients were significantly correlated with those among parents, but not spouse. CONCLUSION: Family stigma is common in families with epilepsy and is closely related to depressive symptoms. Frequent seizures, polytherapy, neurological comorbidities, and the relationship to a patient may be factors that are independently associated with family stigma and depressive symptoms in family members.
PURPOSE: Literature regarding family stigma related to epilepsy is scarce. This study investigated the prevalence of family stigma and depressive symptoms and the associated factors among the family members of patients with epilepsy. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, Stigma Scale-Revised score ≥ 4 and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score ≥ 10 were considered indicative of moderate-to-severe stigma and depressive symptoms, respectively. Stepwise logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of the 482 family members, a mean age was 47.1 ± 9.4 years, and 73.4% were female. Of the patients, a mean age was 25.5 ± 16.7 years, and 45.0% were female. Idiopathic generalized epilepsy and focal epilepsy were noted in 22.4% and 65.6% of patients, respectively. Family stigma and depressive symptoms were noted in 10.0% and 11.2% of family members, respectively. Family stigma was significantly associated with high seizure frequency and being a sibling or offspring of a patient independent of their depressive symptoms. By contrast, depressive symptoms in family members were significantly associated with polytherapy, being parents of a patient, and neurological comorbidities independent of family stigma. In a subset of patients and their family, patients had higher proportion of stigma and depressive symptoms than their family. Depressive symptoms and stigma among patients were significantly correlated with those among parents, but not spouse. CONCLUSION: Family stigma is common in families with epilepsy and is closely related to depressive symptoms. Frequent seizures, polytherapy, neurological comorbidities, and the relationship to a patient may be factors that are independently associated with family stigma and depressive symptoms in family members.