Abstract
There are very few scientists or clinicians who would deny that a proper grasp of the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of the insinuation of epilepsy into individuals’ lives calls on contributions from a growing range of disciplines. These range from genetics at what might be regarded as one end of the spectrum to anthropology at the other. In this chapter we refer to biological, psychological and social mechanisms in full realization that this represents a kind of shorthand for the gamut of discipline-based inputs into any comprehensive understanding of epilepsy and its effects. Our purpose is not to review this extensive and fragmented literature (again), but to explore the possibility of moving on conceptually and scientifically and to offer some empirical illustrations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Afentouli, P. (2008) The Impact of Epilepsy: Developing More Robust Models of Causality, unpublished dissertation for the M.Sc. in Clinical Neuroscience, UCL.
Aldenkamp, A. and Hendriks, M. (2000) Managing Cognitive and Behavioural Consequences of Epilepsy. In G. Baker and A. Jacoby (eds), Quality of Life in Epilepsy: Beyond Seizure Counts in Assessment and Treatment. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers.
Archer, M. (1995) Realist Social Theory: The Morphogenetic Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Archer, M., Bhaskar, R., Collier, A., Lawson, T. and Norrie, A. (eds) (1998) Critical Realism: Essential Readings. London: Routledge.
Benbadis, S. (2007) Errors in EEGs and the Misdiagnosis of Epilepsy: Importance, Causes, Consequences and Proposed Remedies. Epilepsy and Behaviour 11: 257–62.
Berkovic, S., Harkin, L., Mcmahon, J., Pelekanos, J., Zuberi, S., Wirrell, E., Gill, D., Iona, X., Mulley, J. and Scheffer, I. (2006) De-Novo Mutations of the Sodium Channel Gene Scnia in Alleged Vaccine Encephalography: A Retrospective Study. Lancet Neurology 5: 488–92.
Bhaskar, R. (1978) A Realist Theory of Science (2nd ed.). Brighton: Harvester.
Bhaskar, R. (1989) The Possibility of Naturalism (2nd ed.). Hemel Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheaf.
Bhaskar, R. (2008) Grounds for Critique. Plenary Lecture. International Association for Critical Realism Annual Conference, King’s College London.
Birbeck, G. (2006) Interventions to Reduce Epilepsy-Related Stigma. Psychology, Health and Medicine 11: 364–66.
Bourdieu, P. (1977) Outline of a Theory of Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bury, M. (1982) Chronic Illness as Biographical Disruption. Sociology of Health and Illness A 167–82.
Bury, M. (1991) The Sociology of Chronic Illness: A Review of Research and Prospects. Sociology of Health and Illness 13: 167–82.
Chadwick, D. and Smith, D. (2002) The Misdiagnosis of Epilepsy: The Rate of Misdiagnosis and Wide Treatment Choices Are Arguments for Specialist Care in Epilepsy. British Medical Journal 324: 495–6.
Charmaz, K. (1983) Loss of Self: A Fundamental Form of Suffering in the Chronically 111. Sociology of Health and Illness 5: 168–95.
Collier, A. (1994) Critical Realism: An Introduction to Roy Bhaskar’s Philosophy. London: Verso.
Creaven, S. (2000) Marxism and Realism: A Materialist Application of Realism in the Social Sciences. London: Routledge.
Danermark, B., Ekstrom, M., Jakobsen, L. and Karlsson, J. (2002) Explaining Society: Critical Realism in the Social Sciences. London: Routledge.
Freidson, E. (1970) Profession of Medicine. New York: Dodds, Mead & Co.
Hopkins, A. (1987) The Causes and Precipitation of Seizures. In A. Hopkins (ed.), Epilepsy. London: Chapman Hall.
Joseph, J. (2002) Five Ways in Which Critical Realism Can Help Marxism. In A. Brown, S. Fleetwood and J. Roberts (eds), Critical Realism and Marxism. London: Routledge.
King, G., Willoughby, C, Specht, J. and Brown, E. (2006) Social Support Processes and the Adaptation of Individuals with Chronic Disabilities. Qualitative Health Research 16: 902–25.
Kleinman, A. (1985) Indigenous Systems of Healing: Questions for Professional, Popular and Folk Care. In J. Salmon (ed.), Alternatives Medicines: Popular and Policy Perspectives. London: Tavistock.
Lawson, T. (1997) Economics and Reality. London: Routledge.
Mulley, J., Scheffer, I., Petrou, S., Dibbens, L., Berkovic, S. and Harkin, L. (2005) Scnia Mutations and Epilepsy. Human Mutations 25: 535–42.
Scambler, G. and Hopkins, A. (1986) ‘Being Epileptic’: Coming to Terms with Stigma. Sociology of Health and Illness 8: 26–43.
Scambler, G. (1989) Epilepsy. London: Tavistock.
Scambler, G. (2004) Re-framing Stigma: Felt and Enacted Stigma and Challenges to the Sociology of Chronic and Disabling Conditions. Social Theory and Health 2: 29–46.
Scambler, G. (2007) Social Structure and the Production, Reproduction and Durability of Health Inequalities. Social Theory and Health 5: 297–315.
Scambler, G. and Scambler, S. (2003) Realist Agendas on Biology, Health and Medicine. In S. Williams, L. Birke and G. Bendelow (eds), Debating Biology: Sociological Reflections on Health, Medicine and Society. London: Routledge.
Scambler, S. (2005) Exposing the Limitations of Disability Theory: The Case of Juvenile Batten Disease. Social Theory and Health 3: 144–64.
Shahwan, A., Farrell, M. and Delanty, N. (2005) Progressive Myoclonic Epilepsies: A Review of Genetic and Therapeutic Aspects. Lancet Neurology 4: 239–48.
Shostak, S. and Ottman, R. (2006) Ethical, Legal, and Social Determinants of Epilepsy Genetics. Epilepsia 47: 1595–602.
Strauss, A. and Corbin, J. (1990) Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures and Techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Tate, S., Depondt, C, Sisodiya, S., Cavalleri, G., Schorge, S., Soranzo, N., Thom, M., Sen, A., Shorvon, S., Sander, J., Wood, N. and Goldstein, D. (2005) Genetic Predictors of the Maximum Doses Receive during Clinical Use of the Anti-Epileptic Drugs Carbamazepine and Phenytoin. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences USA 12: 5507–12.
Tate, S., Singh, R., Hung, C, Tai, J., Depondt, C, Cavalleri, G., Sisodiya, S., Goldstein, D. and Liou, H. (2006) A Common Polymorphism in the Scnia Gene Associates with Phenytoin Serum Levels at Maintenance Doses. Pharmacogenetic Genomics 16: 721–6.
Temkin, O. (1945) The Falling Sickness. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Thomas, C. (2007) Sociologies of Disability and Illness: Contested Ideas in Disability and Medical Sociology. London: Palgrave.
Williams, G. (1984) The Genesis of Chronic Illness: Narrative Reconstruction. Sociology of Health and Illness 6: 174–200.
Williams, S. (1999) Is Anybody There? Critical Realism, Chronic Illness and the Disability Debate. Sociology of Health and Illness 21: 797–819.
Winawer, M. and Shinnar, S. (2005) Genetic Epidemiology of Epilepsy or What Do We Tell Families? Epilepsia 46, Supplement 10: 24–30.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2010 Graham Scambler, Panagiota Afentouli and Caroline Selai
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Scambler, G., Afentouli, P., Selai, C. (2010). Discerning Biological, Psychological and Social Mechanisms in the Impact of Epilepsy on the Individual: A Framework and Exploration. In: Scambler, G., Scambler, S. (eds) New Directions in the Sociology of Chronic and Disabling Conditions. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230297432_6
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230297432_6
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-58751-3
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-29743-2
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social Sciences CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)