Functioning and Disability in Persons with Epilepsy

Objective: This study aimed to use the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) to describe the functioning of people with epilepsy. The main questions we asked were as follows: what are the difficulties that people with epilepsy face on the body level and in daily activities? What are the most relevant environmental factors needed to describe disability in patients with epilepsy? Design: Data collected using the ICF checklist are presented. Results: Forty-nine patients were interviewed. In total, 63 categories, of which 30 were from the component of activities and participation, 18 were from body functions and body structures, and 14 were from environmental factors, were identified. Among body functions, sensation of pain, seeing, and emotional functions were reported most frequently. Among activities and participation, several difficulties were reported, particularly when capacity qualifiers and broad differences between capacity and performance were taken into account. Finally, environmental factor categories were mostly reported as facilitators, particularly those connected with health care. Conclusions: The description of a profile of functioning and disability can be more comprehensive with the use of the framework of the ICF, which provides a broad picture of functioning. A deeper understanding of functioning can be gained using the ICF conceptualization of disability because it incorporates all relevant aspects of functioning at the levels of the body and the person, as well as the impact of the environment.