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ZENODO
Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Epilepsy and Social Stigma – Effects on Quality of life: Narrative Synthesis

Authors: LIȘINSCHI-BARANOV, Gabriela; Academician GROPPA, Stanislav; OJOVAN, Vitalie; FERDOHLEB, Alina;

Epilepsy and Social Stigma – Effects on Quality of life: Narrative Synthesis

Abstract

Epilepsy remains one of the most stigmatized neurological disorders, with consequences that extend far beyond seizure control to quality of life, social participation, education, employment, and treatment adherence. This paper presents a narrative synthesis of observational studies from Eastern Europe that compared perceived stigma among adults with epilepsy with declared attitudes in the general population and, where available, in medical students as a proxy for future health professionals. The review was based on structured searches of PubMed, Scopus, Europe PMC and relevant regional publications from 2000 to 2025. The available evidence from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Bulgaria shows a recurrent discrepancy between relatively favorable declared public attitudes and the high burden of perceived stigma reported by patients. Perceived stigma is amplified by seizure burden, refractory disease, depression, anxiety, functional limitations and poor disease control, while direct contact with a person living with epilepsy is consistently associated with more favorable public attitudes. The synthesis supports multilevel interventions that combine public education, contact-based anti-stigma strategies, mental health screening, first-aid training, and clinician engagement. For the Republic of Moldova, the current evidence base remains limited and mainly indirect, which underlines the need for primary observational studies adapted to the regional sociocultural context.

Keywords

stigma, adults, epilepsy, Eastern Europe, narrative synthesis, general population, discrimination

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
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