title: Psychosocial difficulties in people with epilepsy: a systematic review of literature from 2005 until 2010.
abstract: The aims of this paper are to identify factors that influence the psychosocial difficulties (PSDs) that persons with epilepsy experience in their everyday life, to describe their onset and the way they evolve over time, and to analyze the determinants of changes over time and other related variables. Electronic databases were searched for studies published in English between January 2005 and May 2010, and information from thirteen studies was extracted. The most frequent PSDs found in people with epilepsy were depressive symptoms, memory functions, quality of life, anxiety, stigma, locus of control, cognitive functions in general, and emotional functions in general. It can be stated that patients' life areas are affected by cognitive, emotional, and psychological problems. However, the majority of studies focus on isolated PSDs or on the effects of a specific determinant in the course of epilepsy, leaving some gaps that could encourage further research.
authors: Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Scientific Directorate, Neurological Institute Carlo Besta IRCCS Foundation, Milan, Italy. quintas.r@istituto-besta.it
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Quintas
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Raggi
authors: Ambra M
authors: AM
authors: Giovannetti
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Pagani
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Sabariego
authors: Alarcos
authors: A
authors: Cieza
authors: Matilde
authors: M
authors: Leonardi
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057545:Social Stigma