A program of psychologic service delivery in a multiple sclerosis center.

Abstract

We assert that psychologists have an important role to play in the care of the chronically ill, and that it is possible to construct programs that are workable, useful to patients, and of mutual interest to psychologists and physicians in the health care setting. We describe a program of psychological services in a multiple sclerosis center. These services are built on a theoretical model of coping, directed at education in a broad sense and at peer contact and support. We describe a program of group discussions for patients and family, conceptualized as reference groups for the learning of a new life style with a different set of values. We also discuss factors of critical importance in the success of this particular model of care, and we suggest that psychologists must carefully consider political, financial, and organizational realities in their attempts to structure programs in the primary health care settings.

Application of a stress and coping model to caregiving in multiple sclerosis

“…Knutson, 1985;Larberg & Cavallo, 1984). Pavlou et al (1979), in their programme of psychological service delivery to persons with MS, found that after a loved one receives a diagnosis of MS, caregivers experience trauma and numerous psychosocial problems related to their caregiving role including emotional distress (often referred to as chronic sorrow (Hainsworth, 1996)), managing one's life around the unpredictability and uncertainty of the disease, change in roles, relationship dif culties and lack of 'time out'. These caregiving problems have been further validated by systematic descriptive studies of the burden of small samples of MS caregivers (e.g.…”

Dealing with Chronic Illness: Experiences of Iranian Families of Persons with Multiple Sclerosis—A Qualitative Study

“…As an unpredictable chronic condition with unknown prognosis, MS is experienced differently among patients [ 11 ], and family caregivers assuming responsibility for the constant care often experience emotional distress and sadness with role modifications [ 12 , 13 ]. On the other hand, patients, their spouses, and other family members face numerous economic and social challenges such as losing a job, reduced income, changes in social status, and caregiver exhaustion [ 14 , 15 ].…”

The nature of caregiving in multiple sclerosis: development of the caregiving tasks in multiple sclerosis scale

“…The demands of providing care to a person with MS are evident from findings showing that MS caregivers report: four times as many stress-related symptoms as the general population [3], significantly lower global life satisfaction compared to the general community [4], higher levels of stress compared to non-caregivers [5] and one third of caregivers have been shown to report clinically significant levels of distress and requests for mental health assistance [6]. In addition, studies show that caregivers report a wide range of problems related to their caregiving [7] (see review [8]).…”