Approach to epilepsy stigma: From reducing stigma to enhancing dignity

Abstract

Psychosocial burden of epilepsy is crucial in the care of epilepsy. Traditionally the effort to overcome the psychosocial burden of people with epilepsy has been by reducing social stigma but less on self- perceived stigma. Self-perceived stigma is an aspect of self-esteem and dignity. Maslow has divided the self-esteem and dignity into the “lower” and “higher” version. The “lower” version is the respect from others. The “higher” version is from self-evaluation. Thus, the approach to reduce stigma works toward “lower” version of esteem. A comprehensive approach to increasing esteem and dignity should thus also include efforts toward the “higher” version, to improve self-evaluation. In fact, enhancing self-esteem by reducing stigma also exert its effect through self-evaluation. As self-evaluation is dependent on cultural values, dialogue with the traditional culture, to draw out the relevant elements in the culture is a neglected aspect of comprehensive epilepsy care.