Determinants of quality of life in people with epilepsy.
This article reviews evidence of quality of life (QOL) determinants in people affected by epilepsy, including detractors and promoters. Emerging factors of particular significance for QOL are highlighted, including seizure frequency, medication side effects, psychological comorbidity, and stigma and discrimination. This article also examines the role of resilience, interpreted in its widest sense, for promoting good QOL, even in the presence of poorly controlled seizures. The importance of addressing both clinical and wider psychosocial issues is highlighted and some possible directions for future research into QOL in epilepsy are suggested.
Division of Public Health, University of Liverpool, Whelan Building, 3rd Floor, The Quadrangle, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GB, UK. Electronic address: ajacoby@liv.ac.uk.
Ann
A
Jacoby
Division of Public Health, University of Liverpool, Whelan Building, 3rd Floor, The Quadrangle, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GB, UK.
Dee
D
Snape
Division of Neurosciences, University of Liverpool, Whelan Building, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GB, UK.
Gus A
GA
Baker
D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology