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Stigma in Epilepsy

  • Epilepsy (CW Bazil, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Stigma remains a weight those with epilepsy have to carry and a defining feature of their identity. This article highlights recent studies published in the area of stigma, knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding epilepsy. First, recent studies addressing the frequency of stigma and factors associated with stigma are discussed. Second, tools developed to ascertain stigma in epilepsy, or knowledge, attitudes, and practices, are examined. Lastly, we discuss interventions recently studied to reduce stigma in epilepsy.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Acknowledgements

Kirsten M. Fiest is funded by an Alberta Innovates Health Solutions (AIHS) studentship. Nathalie Jette holds a Canada Research Chair in Neurological Health Services Research and an AIHS Population Health Investigator Award. Gretchen L. Birbeck is funded by the US NIH to conduct epilepsy-associated stigma research in Zambia. Ann Jacoby holds the Chair in Medical Sociology in the Department of Public Health, University of Liverpool, UK.

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

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Conflict of Interest

Kirsten M. Fiest, Ann Jacoby, and Nathalie Jette declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Gretchen L. Birbeck has received grants from the NIH and travel/accommodation expenses from the WHO and the NIH.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neurosciences & Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Center, 1403 29 Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 2T9, Canada

    Kirsten M. Fiest & Nathalie Jette

  2. Department of Community Health Science & Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Kirsten M. Fiest & Nathalie Jette

  3. Chikankata Epilepsy Care Team, Mazabuka, Zambia

    Gretchen L. Birbeck

  4. Department of Neurology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA

    Gretchen L. Birbeck

  5. Department of Public Health and Policy, University of Liverpool, Whelan Building, The Quadrangle, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, L69 3GB, UK

    Ann Jacoby

  6. School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box CU420694, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA

    Gretchen L. Birbeck

Authors
  1. Kirsten M. Fiest
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  2. Gretchen L. Birbeck
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  3. Ann Jacoby
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  4. Nathalie Jette
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nathalie Jette.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Epilepsy

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Fiest, K.M., Birbeck, G.L., Jacoby, A. et al. Stigma in Epilepsy. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 14, 444 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-014-0444-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-014-0444-x

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