Perceived Stress in Epilepsy: A Comparative Study across Patients, Their Siblings and Normal Controls

Abstract

Background: Epilepsy is a common childhood neurological disorder with complex symptoms. Family members, especially parents and siblings, experience emotional pain, especially when seizures occur frequently. Stress can be defined as the psychological and physical response of the caregiver as they try to cope with the challenges of caring for their sick child. Therefore to maintain this domain this study is designed to assess the stress of a patient with epilepsy (PWE) and their siblings. Objective: To examine the perceived stress of persons with epilepsy, their siblings and normal controls. Method: This study was a part of a cross-sectional, hospital-based study and the samples were selected through the purposive sampling process. In the study, 60 people were included (20 patients diagnosed with epilepsy according to the International League against Epilepsy (ILAE), 20 siblings of patients with epilepsy, and 20 people with general control). The age range was 20–45 in each group. Age, education, and family income have been compared between siblings and general controls. The perceived stress scale was used for all participants in the stress assessment. For the siblings and normal controls, GHQ-12 was applied and a person who scored less than three in GHQ-12 was included in the study. Result and conclusion: Findings of the present study concluded that patient and their siblings had higher stress in comparison to normal individuals.