Evaluation of self‐stigma in patients with epilepsy: Validation of the self‐stigma scale to Montenegrin language

This study aimed to adapt and validate the Montenegrin version of the Epilepsy Self-Stigma Scale (ESSS-MNE) to assess internalized stigma among people with epilepsy (PWE) in Montenegro. Epilepsy-related stigma remains a pervasive issue globally, adversely affecting self-esteem, social integration, and treatment adherence. Cultural and linguistic specificity is critical in accurately measuring self-stigma, particularly in understudied populations like Montenegro. The ESSS was translated and culturally adapted using a forward-backward method, followed by psychometric validation in a sample of 230 adult PWE recruited from a tertiary care center. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a unidimensional structure with acceptable model fit (CFI = 0.911, RMSEA = 0.097). Internal consistency was satisfactory (Cronbach’s α = 0.77). Higher self-stigma scores were significantly associated with unemployment, single marital status, lower education, and polytherapy. The ESSS-MNE is a valid and reliable tool for measuring self-stigma in Montenegrin PWE. Its use can support clinical assessment, inform targeted anti-stigma interventions, and enable cross-cultural comparisons. Future studies should explore its applicability in broader and more diverse populations.