Neuropsychological dysfunction, depression, physical disability, and coping processes in families with a parent affected by multiple sclerosis.
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Neuropsychological dysfunction, depression, physical disability, and coping processes in families with a parent affected by multiple sclerosis. / Ehrensperger, M M; Grether, A; Romer, Georg; Berres, M; Monsch, A U; Kappos, L; Steck, B.
in: MULT SCLER J, Jahrgang 14, Nr. 8, 8, 2008, S. 1106-1112.Publikationen: SCORING: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift/Zeitung › SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz › Forschung › Begutachtung
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Neuropsychological dysfunction, depression, physical disability, and coping processes in families with a parent affected by multiple sclerosis.
AU - Ehrensperger, M M
AU - Grether, A
AU - Romer, Georg
AU - Berres, M
AU - Monsch, A U
AU - Kappos, L
AU - Steck, B
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - BACKGROUND: Families with a parent suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) must cope with the unpredictable course of the disease. Most studies analyzing factors that influence coping abilities in families with a member affected with MS used questionnaires to assess this ability. METHODS: On the contrary, the present study used a semi-structured psychiatric interview and used the resulting information to calculate a general measure of coping ability (coping index [CI]). We administered this interview to 44 MS patients, their partners and offspring and conducted a neuropsychological and physical evaluation of the patients to determine the impact of physical disability, cognitive dysfunction, and depression on the process of coping by the patient, the healthy partner, and children. RESULTS: The CI of patients was best predicted by measures of their depressive symptoms, divided attention, and estimated verbal intelligence. None of the patient variables predicted the CI of healthy partners or their offspring. We found an association between the CI of the healthy partner and the children. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that MS patients' emotional and neuropsychological functions are associated with their ability to cope with the disease. These should be carefully assessed at the beginning of treatment so that those factors known to negatively influence patient coping are targeted in the treatment plan if necessary. Comprehensive care of a patient with MS should include support of coping abilities of the family members.
AB - BACKGROUND: Families with a parent suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) must cope with the unpredictable course of the disease. Most studies analyzing factors that influence coping abilities in families with a member affected with MS used questionnaires to assess this ability. METHODS: On the contrary, the present study used a semi-structured psychiatric interview and used the resulting information to calculate a general measure of coping ability (coping index [CI]). We administered this interview to 44 MS patients, their partners and offspring and conducted a neuropsychological and physical evaluation of the patients to determine the impact of physical disability, cognitive dysfunction, and depression on the process of coping by the patient, the healthy partner, and children. RESULTS: The CI of patients was best predicted by measures of their depressive symptoms, divided attention, and estimated verbal intelligence. None of the patient variables predicted the CI of healthy partners or their offspring. We found an association between the CI of the healthy partner and the children. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that MS patients' emotional and neuropsychological functions are associated with their ability to cope with the disease. These should be carefully assessed at the beginning of treatment so that those factors known to negatively influence patient coping are targeted in the treatment plan if necessary. Comprehensive care of a patient with MS should include support of coping abilities of the family members.
M3 - SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz
VL - 14
SP - 1106
EP - 1112
JO - MULT SCLER J
JF - MULT SCLER J
SN - 1352-4585
IS - 8
M1 - 8
ER -