title: Epilepsy patients' conceptions of epilepsy as a phenomenon.
abstract: This study addressed epilepsy patients' conceptions of epilepsy as a phenomenon and emotions related to those conceptions. Nineteen outpatients were interviewed, and data were analyzed according to the phenomenographical methodology. Patients described epilepsy in six qualitatively different ways: Epilepsy is (a) an illness related to physical disturbances, (b) a condition related to physical disturbances, (c) a mental disturbance related to lack of mental capacity, (d) a handicap related to psychological and/or social aspects, (e) an identity related to being an epileptic, and (f) a punishment. The emotions confidence, happiness, hope, and annoyance were related to epilepsy as an illness or a condition, whereas shame, fear, sorrow, and guilt were related to the other four categories. This study indicated that, to patients, the phenomenon of epilepsy is above all a psychosocial nature and in that dimension closely related to negative emotions.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Social and Life Sciences, Department of Nursing, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden. lena.raty@kau.se
authors.forename: Lena K A
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Räty
authors.forename: Gerry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Starrin
authors.forename: Bodil M Wilde
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004644:Emotions; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D012649:Self Concept; D012752:Shame; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult