Background & objectives: Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological disorder that puts trouble for many people worldwide. The impact of epilepsy on the self-efficacy and quality of life of patients is greater than the limitations imposed by the seizures alone. Worry, uncertainty and stigma associated with epilepsy may affect the self-efficacy and quality of life. The present study aimed to identify the relationship of worry, uncertainty and stigma with the self-efficacy and quality of life in the patients with epilepsy.

Methods: A descriptive-correlational design was used to conduct the study. Through the convenience sampling method, 60 patients with epilepsy admitted to the neurology unit of Alavi hospital affiliated to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences were involved in the study during 2014. Data were collected by administering the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale, Epilepsy Stigma Scale, Epilepsy Self-Efficacy and Epilepsy Quality of Life Scale. Data were analyzed using Pearson&rsquos correlation coefficient and multivariate regression analysis in SPSS v.20.

Results: Findings indicated that quality of life of patients with epilepsy negatively correlated with reported worry, uncertainty and stigma (p=0.000), also self-efficacy negatively correlated with the social stigma (p=0.008). Regression analysis also showed that 44 percent of the variance in quality of life and 21% of the variance of self-efficacy in these patients is predicted by uncertainty, fear and social stigma.

Conclusions: According to the findings, patients with epilepsy suffer from stigma, uncertainty and worry and consequently the sense of self-efficacy is decreased among them so they need support from the community and family.