Public misconceptions and attitudes towards persons diagnosed with epilepsy in the Kingdom of Bahrain: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Despite significant advancements in the understanding and treatment of epilepsy, the quality of life for persons diagnosed with Epilepsy (PdwE) can still be negatively impacted due to prevalent misconceptions and societal attitudes. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, misconceptions, and attitudes towards epilepsy in Bahrain. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 1079 participants aged ≥ 18 years living in Bahrain. Data collection occurred between June and December 2023 through an online questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: sociodemographic characteristics, sources of information, knowledge about epilepsy, and attitudes toward PdwE. RESULTS: Most participants (1063 out of 1179) were familiar with epilepsy, with social media being the main source of information (56.7%). While 75.6% correctly recognized epilepsy as a nervous system disorder. About 30% of participants believed that body shaking and falling to the ground were the only types of seizures. In terms of attitudes, 47.9% believed that PdwE could achieve high levels of education, but 40% thought they might face job loss due to their condition. Additionally, 27.5% disagreed with the idea of marrying someone with epilepsy or allowing a family member to do so. Being female, young, highly educated, and having a family member with epilepsy were associated with significantly more positive attitudes compared to other groups. CONCLUSION: The studied sample of the Bahraini public demonstrated a satisfactory level of knowledge about epilepsy. However, they still held certain misconceptions that could impact their attitudes towards PdwE. Community awareness campaigns can address this knowledge gap and reduce epilepsy stigma.

Emerging therapies for immunomodulation in traumatic brain injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a significant global health burden, often leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Mounting evidence underscores the intricate involvement of dysregulated immune responses in TBI pathophysiology, highlighting the potential for immunomodulatory interventions to mitigate secondary injury cascades and enhance patient outcomes. Despite advancements in treatment modalities, optimizing therapeutic strategies remains a critical challenge in TBI management. To address this gap, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to rigorously evaluate the efficacy and safety of emerging immunomodulatory therapies in the context of TBI. Methods: We searched electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and CENTRAL for relevant studies investigating the efficacy of immunomodulatory therapies in TBI that were meticulously selected for inclusion. Two independent reviewers meticulously performed data extraction and quality assessment, adhering to predefined criteria. Both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies reporting clinically relevant outcomes, such as mortality rates, the Glasgow coma scale, and adverse events, were meticulously scrutinized. Meta-analysis techniques were employed to assess treatment effects across studies quantitatively and analyzed using the Review Manager software (version 5.2). Results: Fourteen studies (n = 1 observational and n = 13 RCTs) were included in our study. Meta-analysis showed no significant overall mortality difference, but erythropoietin (EPO) significantly reduced mortality (odds ratio = 0.49; 95% confidence interval: 0.31-0.78, P = 0.002). The adverse event meta-analysis revealed no significant differences. Conclusion: Immunomodulatory therapies did not significantly affect overall mortality, but EPO demonstrated promising results. Adverse events did not significantly differ from controls. Further research is warranted to refine TBI treatment protocols.