The social and occupational functioning Scale for epilepsy (SOFSE): Russian adaptation and psychometric performance...

To develop and validate a Russian version of the Social and Occupational Functioning Scale for Epilepsy (SOFSE), addressing the lack of a validated Russian-language instrument for assessing social functioning in people with epilepsy (PWE), despite the high prevalence of epilepsy and persistent stigma in the Russian Federation.

Following established cross-cultural adaptation guidelines, the Russian SOFSE was administered to 545 consecutively recruited adults with epilepsy (mean age 43.2 years; 53.9 % women) at a Level 2 Epilepsy Center, alongside the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and QOLIE-31. Factor structure (via confirmatory factor analysis), internal consistency (McDonald's ω), and discriminant validity were assessed.

Confirmatory factor analysis supported a unidimensional structure (RMSEA = 0.051; CFI = 0.955; TLI = 0.946). McDonald's ω coefficients ranged from 0.51 ('With a paying job') to 0.80 ('Instrumental Living Skills'), indicating adequate internal consistency overall, though somewhat lower for the employment-related subscale. Cluster analysis identified two groups with differential functional impairment (n = 352 vs. 193). Individuals in the impaired cluster demonstrated significantly poorer quality of life (QOLIE-31 total: 45.1 ± 29.5 vs. 61.9 ± 14.9; p < 0.001) and higher levels of depressive (HADS-D: 8.4 ± 4.1 vs. 4.65 ± 3.3; p < 0.001) and anxiety symptoms (HADS-A: 9.5 ± 4.4 vs. 6.4 ± 4.1; p < 0.001).

The Russian SOFSE shows overall adequate psychometric properties and is a clinically feasible instrument for assessing social functioning in PWE, although reliability was somewhat weaker for leisure and work-related items. Its strong association with depression and quality of life highlights the importance of routinely screening for psychiatric comorbidities - particularly depression - and integrating biopsychosocial interventions (e.g., psychological support, rehabilitation) to mitigate functional decline.