The assessment of quality of life (QOL) in patients with chronic illness has become common in studies over the past 20 or 30 years. There are multiple stressors that compromise QOL with these patients. Implicit in many of these stressors is the concept of illness intrusiveness: the disruption of lifestyles, activities, and interests due to the constraints imposed by chronic disease and its treatment. Poochikian-Sarkissian and coworkers examined illness intrusiveness and QOL in epileptic patients with different levels of seizure control. Cross-sectional data were obtained and compared between two groups of patients categorized by presence of seizures: seizure freedom or continued seizures (N = 145). Standard instruments measured the following variables: illness intrusiveness, perceived personal control, subjective well-being, and disease specific QOL. Illness intrusiveness varied inversely and significantly with seizure control. Complete seizure freedom, whether achieved by pharmacological or surgical treatment, was associated with the lowest levels of illness intrusiveness. Seizure freedom was also associated with increased perceived control, positive affect, self-esteem, and QOL .

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: The authors concluded that the most robust benefits of decreased illness intrusiveness in epilepsy occur when treatment leads to complete seizure control. Therefore every effort should be made by health care providers to assist epileptic patients to achieve seizure freedom to reduce illness intrusiveness and improve QOL.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A PATIENT: The conclusions are the same across all chronic illnesses: the higher the degree of control you have over your condition, the higher will be your quality of life. Achieving control over any chronic condition, whether through adhering to medication instructions or performing appropriate self-management skills will benefit you and enhance your QOL.

S Poochikian-Sarkissian. Seizure freedom reduces illness intrusiveness and improves quality of life in epilepsy. Canadian Journal of Neurological Science, 2008;35:280-286.