Spirituality in epilepsy - A Hungarian study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Sociology

Background:

• The connection between epilepsy and spirituality/religiosity is complex and findings vary, often from highly religious populations.
• Previous research on epilepsy and spirituality is inconsistent.
• The current study investigates spirituality in a predominantly secular group of Hungarian adults with focal epilepsy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the level of spirituality in Hungarian adults with focal epilepsy.
• To examine the association between spirituality and clinical features of epilepsy in this cohort.
• To compare religiosity levels with national figures in Hungary.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 129 patients diagnosed with focal epilepsy.
• Participants completed the Index of Spirituality (INSPIRIT-R) questionnaire.
• Detailed sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from all participants.

Main Results:

• Spirituality and religiosity were found to be low among patients with focal epilepsy.
• High spirituality was associated with lower income (p=0.003).
• Seizure-free patients (57%) were more likely to report high spirituality compared to those with low spirituality (34%, p=0.007).
• Isolated auras were more prevalent in patients with high spirituality (39%) versus low spirituality (22%, p=0.037).

Conclusions:

• Spirituality and religiosity levels are low in this secular Hungarian cohort with epilepsy, potentially lower than in the general population.
• Spirituality in epilepsy is linked to factors such as income, seizure control, and aura experiences.
• Findings suggest a nuanced relationship between spirituality and epilepsy, influenced by societal context and clinical presentation.