Epilepsy and the family: a review of current literature

Although the negative effect of epilepsy on patient's psychosocial well-bei ng has been increasingly documented in the last decade, the influence of th e condition on the family has attracted much less interest. This paper revi ews the present state of family research, examining the influence of both c hildhood and adulthood epilepsy on the psychological and social well-being of family members. Studies indicate that epilepsy may cause high levels of psychosocial difficulties for all family members, including stigmatization, stress, psychiatric morbidity, marital problems, poor self esteem and rest riction of social activities. Studies also suggest that the family environm ent may be an important intervening factor between the condition and the ou tcome for the family unit, and a number of family factors are reviewed whic h have been suggested to mediate this relationship, with recommendations be ing made for their use in intervention studies. Shortcomings of the family studies to date are discussed and these include: concentration on examinati on of issues around family life, studies being based on reports from single members of the family and the selection of subjects from clinical populati ons. Recommendations are made concerning methodological and conceptual issu es that need addressing for future research. (C) 2000 BEA Trading Ltd.