New Russian Tool Assesses Social Functioning in Epilepsy Patients

Source: Epilepsy & behavior : E&B

Summary

Researchers studied the Social and Occupational Functioning Scale for Epilepsy (SOFSE) to create a Russian version that could help assess how well adults with epilepsy manage social and work-related activities. They tested this new scale on 545 adults with epilepsy, who were recruited from an epilepsy center in Russia. The average age of participants was about 43 years, and just over half were women.

The study found that the Russian SOFSE is a reliable tool for measuring social functioning in people with epilepsy. It showed that there are two groups of individuals based on their level of functioning: one group had significant difficulties, which were linked to a lower quality of life and higher levels of anxiety and depression. The scale performed well overall, but it was less reliable when it came to questions about work and leisure activities.

This research is important because it provides a way to better understand the social challenges faced by people with epilepsy in Russia, where there is still a lot of stigma around the condition. By identifying those who struggle more, healthcare providers can offer targeted support, especially for mental health issues like depression. However, the study also noted that the scale had some limitations, particularly in measuring work-related aspects, which means it might not capture the full picture of a person's functioning in all areas.

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