title: Stigmatising feelings and disclosure apprehension among children with epilepsy.
abstract: Despite worldwide campaigns to enhance public awareness, understanding and acceptability of epilepsy, stigmatising feelings remain among children with epilepsy and their families. Stigma can be internally felt by the child (shame and embarrassment) or enacted by others (discrimination). Many children with epilepsy and their parents fear disclosure of the condition and exercise a variety of disclosure or concealment strategies. Maintaining these strategies can have a negative, stressful impact on the child's social and psychosocial development and quality of life. Continuing dialogue among families, friends, teachers and health professionals should be initiated and supported.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Human Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Toole
authors.forename: Ailbhe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012650:Self Disclosure; D013240:Stereotyping
keywords: Children; disclosure; epilepsy; families; stigma