[Coping style and cognitive attitude in patients with multiple sclerosis]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychology
• Health Psychology

Context:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) presents an unpredictable disease course, necessitating patient integration of illness into their psychosocial framework.
• Subjective coping strategies are increasingly recognized as crucial for managing chronic diseases like MS.

Purpose:

• To investigate the relationship between coping styles, locus of control, and disease progression in multiple sclerosis outpatients.
• To identify how cognitive attitudes and coping mechanisms influence the course of multiple sclerosis.

Summary:

• This study analyzed 20 multiple sclerosis outpatients, correlating their coping styles and locus of control with disease outcomes.
• Favorable coping strategies were associated with an internal locus of control and better disease outcomes.
• Conversely, unfavorable coping behaviors and external locus of control correlated with a worse disease course, with depressive coping styles and psychopathological depression being prominent in severe cases.

Impact:

• Findings underscore the importance of assessing coping mechanisms and cognitive attitudes in multiple sclerosis management.
• Evaluation of these factors can help in strengthening patients' personal resources for dealing with multiple sclerosis.
• This research highlights potential targets for interventions aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals with multiple sclerosis.