Coping with neuroimmunological diseases

Although there is little doubt about a considerable need for psychosocial support in patients with severe neuroimmunological diseases, the theoretical elaboration of stressful illness consequences as well as the development of standardised intervention programs are still in their beginnings. In the present paper, models of coping with chronic illness are characterised as a suitable framework. After a short overview of psychological dimensions of physical illness, concepts from the coping literature that seem to meet these demands are briefly introduced. Furthermore, recent results of coping research especially in multiple sclerosis (MS) are outlined in an overview which also includes findings from evaluation studies. Moreover, aims and techniques, which constitute necessary elements of coping skills training for patients with neuroimmunological disease, are described. Questions of suitability of coping interventions for subgroups of patients with multiple sclerosis are finally discussed.