PSYCHOSOCIAL EFFECTS OF LIVING WITH EPILEPSY

CASE STUDY IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN NORTH WEST NIGERIA

Abstract

People with epilepsy (PWE) experience not only the physical signs and symptoms that manifest mainly as seizures or epileptic fits but also psychosocial effects. The psychosocial problems negatively affect all facets of the PWE life that include; anxiety associated with fears of seizures, depression with risk of suicide, personality changes and psychoses. They also experience anger/frustration, lower self-esteem, lack of confidence, feeling of humiliation/embarrassment, social withdrawal, neurodevelopmental disorders, cognitive deficits, educational attainment and achievement problems.  PWE also experience family and marital relationships problems causing family dysfunction, child bearing/rearing problems, higher divorce rates, difficulty getting married and sexual dysfunction.  They also have work input and employment opportunity problems leading to under employment, unemployment, and dismissal from work.  PWE are also stigmatized as being possessed by devil or evil spirits and also face isolation, discrimination, ostracism, and reduced quality of life.  However, this clinical paper is on anxiety, depression, specific phobia and stigma.  Case study of twenty-eight (28) year old client attending neurology clinic of a tertiary hospital and diagnosed of epilepsy (focal impaired awareness seizures) by consultant neurologist and then referred him to clinical psychologist for clinical assessment and therapy was presented in this paper.  A comprehensive psychodiagnostic assessment that comprised clinical interview, administration of psychological tests, and behavioural observations were conducted and the client benefitted from therapeutic interventions with good outcome.  There is the need for psychologists to be employed and included as members of the interdisciplinary team of healthcare professionals managing PWE to treat the psychosocial effects.