Quality of Life in Adolescents Living with Epilepsy and The Implications for Clinical Psychology

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions among children and adolescents. In addition to seizures, adolescents living with epilepsy face significant psychosocial challenges that negatively impact their quality of life (QOL). Research indicates that adolescents with epilepsy generally experience a lower QOL compared to their peers without epilepsy. This part of the study measured the QOL of adolescents living with epilepsy in Nairobi County. The Quality of Life in Epilepsy for Adolescents (QOLIE-AD-48) was used to assess the participants' QOL. An additional tool included a questionnaire to collect demographic and clinical information. The respondents consisted of 103 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years who were diagnosed with epilepsy and attended the Kenya Association for the Welfare of People Living with Epilepsy (KAWE) clinics in Nairobi County. The overall mean for QOL was 59.23, SD=14.69, reflecting a moderate level of QOL among the participants. Challenges such as cognitive difficulties, social stigma, and negative public attitudes significantly impacted school performance and self-esteem, while protective factors included social support, education, urban residency, and monotherapy treatment. The findings indicate the need for comprehensive, individualized care that accounts for demographic and clinical differences. Clinically, the results call for tailored interventions to reduce stigma, strengthen support systems, improve treatment adherence, and enhance cognitive and physical functioning. Targeted psychological support, especially for females and younger adolescents, may help improve coping, resilience, and self-image, ultimately enhancing QOL outcomes. Key words: Epilepsy, Adolescents, Quality of life, Clinical psychology, Kenya