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Emotional stress and coping in multiple sclerosis (MS) exacerbations
S Warren1, K G Warren, R Cockerill
1Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Emotional stress impacts multiple sclerosis (MS) patients differently during exacerbation versus remission. Patients experiencing exacerbations reported higher stress and fewer coping uplifts, suggesting a need for stress management counseling.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease.
- Emotional stress is a known factor influencing MS relapses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare emotional stress levels and coping mechanisms in MS patients during exacerbation versus remission.
- To investigate the relationship between emotional stress and MS disease activity.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 95 pairs of MS patients.
- Assessment of emotional stress, event intensity, and coping strategies over the preceding three months.
Main Results:
- Patients in MS exacerbation reported higher emotional disturbance and event intensity compared to those in remission.
- Patients in exacerbation showed a lower frequency of compensating uplifts.
- A trend indicated a preference for emotion-focused coping strategies in patients experiencing exacerbation.
Conclusions:
- Emotional stress may play a significant role in triggering or exacerbating MS relapses.
- MS patients experiencing exacerbations may benefit from targeted counseling in stress reduction techniques.
- Further research is needed to clarify the causal relationship between stress and MS exacerbations.