Epileptics live a double sentence. In addition to suffering the pangs and pains of their illness, they are also victims of discrimination, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Epilepsia. They have a 7-fold risk of experiencing segregation due to their disease, compared to the general population.
Researchers from the NHS Mental Health Trust and the University of Bristol in the UK conducted a study to establish levels of discrimination against people withepilepsy. They interviewed 7,403 participants diagnosed with epilepsy and other chronic diseases to analyze domestic violence, physical and sexual violence and other stressful acts suffered by patients.
People with epilepsy are the target of discrimination
The results of this investigation revealed that this neurological disease was subject to strong discrimination. Indeed, the epileptics have a risk multiplied by 7 of declaring to have been discriminated against because of their disease, compared to the general population. This risk of segregation is greater than that of people with other chronic diseases.
Patients also reported being at much higher risk of domestic violence and sexual abuse. However, this survey does not reveal a link between epilepsy and physical trauma or stressful acts.
In addition, this discrimination could therefore be the cause of anxiety disorders and depression epileptics. Scientists estimate this risk at 42.7%.
“Our survey shows that, despite all the progress made over the past 100 years, the experience of discrimination continues to be a worrying problem for people with epilepsy,” concludes Dr Victoria Nimmo-Smith, lead author of study.
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