Black-white differences in the psychosocial outcomes of epilepsy

The present study tested the hypothesis that the stigma of being disabled a nd that of minority ethnic status yield more negative psychosocial outcomes for black than white persons with epilepsy. Black (n = 55) and white (n = 53) urban participants from a larger sample were matched for socioeconomic status and seizure frequency. Differences in these and key demographic vari ables were tested using chi(2) and t-tests and found to be non-significant. Group differences in psychosocial outcome variables were analyzed with the following results: (1) white subjects were more likely to have considered suicide and to have higher scores on the family background scale of the Was hington Psychosocial Seizure Inventory (WPSI); (2) black subjects had signi ficantly lower scores on the Beck Hopelessness Scale and significantly more optimistic attributional styles; and (3) no between-group differences were found on other psychosocial measures. The nature of family and community s upports may determine intergroup differences. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.