Stress and multiple sclerosis: A systematic review considering potential moderating and mediating factors and methods of assessing stress

Briones-Buixassa, Laia; Milà, Raimón; Aragonès, Josep Mª.; Bufill, Enric; Olaya, Beatriz; Arrufat, Francesc

doi:10.1177/2055102915612271

Cited by 54 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 58 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…. patients (23). However, as far as we are aware, fear of relapse and its impacts on the quality of life has not been fully addressed, and we need to develop a scale to screen MS patients.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and Validation of Fear of Relapse Scale for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding Stressors in Patients

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Chronic diseases are associated with patients' long-term stress and development of fear to things related to the source of stress. Better management of a patients' condition requires investigation of the underlying mechanisms that contribute to the process of development of chronic stress. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating chronic disease in most cases diagnosed after a relapse and characterized by the periodic occurrence of relapses in most patients. Due to the unpredictable course of the disease and relapses, patients with Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS) may deal with the stress of anticipation of relapse and its unpredictable consequences. The role of relapses and related stress on patients' quality of life has not been previously investigated. This study is the first effort to develop a self-report measure of Fear of Relapse (FoR) in patients with RRMS. Thirty-one items were extracted from in-depth clinical interviews with 33 RRMS patients to develop the preliminary version of the scale. Subsequently, 168 RRMS patients completed the questionnaire, the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS) and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS). Fifty-one patients completed the scale one more time a month later. Factor analysis revealed three components, and five items failed to load on any of them. To test the FoR's independence from similar measures, responses to 26 items were pooled once with DASS items and once with IUS items, and each time were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis (two-component solution). Despite significant correlations between FoR, DASS, and IUS Independent loadings of items belonging to FoR and DASS, and FoR and IUS revealed independence and unique contribution of FoR to the evaluation of patients. Cronbach's alpha for the 26-item version was 0.92. Test-retest reliability for total score was equal to 0.74. These findings provide preliminary evidence of the validity and reliability of the measure. This scale can help researchers and clinicians to have a more comprehensive understanding of patients'

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and Validation of Fear of Relapse Scale for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding Stressors in Patients

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In a recent systematic review, Briones-Buixassa et al (2015) 84" highlighted the importance of taking these into account, as some of the psychosocial…”

Section: " "mentioning

confidence: 99%

A case-control study of psychosocial factors and their relationship to impairment and functionality in multiple sclerosis

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The stress effect on multiple sclerosis remains unclear. Moderating psychosocial factors may be involved. This study compares some of them in people with multiple sclerosis and healthy controls, and their association with disease parameters. Coping style, social support, anxiety, alexithymia and early-life stress were measured, along with impairment and functionality. People with multiple sclerosis scored significantly higher on anxiety, alexithymia, and avoidance and instinctive coping but lower in social support. No differences were found in earlylife stress. Impairment was related to avoidance, and functionality to avoidance and anxiety. Psychotherapeutic approaches focused on these psychosocial factors may improve functionality, impairment and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis. 1" " Briones*Buixassa,"L.,"Milà,"R.,"Arrufat,"F."X.,"Aragonès,"J."M,"Bufill,"E.,"Luminet,"O.,"&"Moss* 1" Morris,"R."(in"press)."A case-control study of psychosocial factors which may predict or 2" moderate the effect of stress in multiple sclerosis. Journal of Health Psychology." 3" 4"2" " 5" Abstract 6" 7"The stress effect on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) remains unclear. Moderating 8"psychosocial factors may be involved. This study compares some of them in people 9"with MS (pwMS) and healthy controls, and their association with disease parameters. 10"Coping style, social support, anxiety, alexithymia and early-life stress were measured, 11"along with impairment and functionality. PwMS scored significantly higher on anxiety, 12"alexithymia, and avoidance and instinctive coping but lower in social support. No 13" differences were found in early-life stress. Impairment was related to avoidance, and 14" functionality to avoidance and anxiety. Psychotherapeutic approaches focused on these 15"psychosocial factors may improve functionality, impairment, and quality of life in 16"pwMS. 17" 18"19"

show abstract

“…Although, the disease activity may, independently of psycho-social factors, cause damage to structures and functions crucial for normal emotional and affective processing, it is not unlikely that maladjustment to an unpredictable and chronic disease may play a crucial important role in the development of suicidal behavior. Further, it has been documented that stress and maladjustment influence the disease activity and course of the disease negatively inducing more lesions (62,63). So in addition to the usual pharmacological treatment of MS focusing on the biological manifestations of the disease, it may be wise to focus on the identification and treatment of mood disorders and other signs of maladjustment to prevent suicidal behavior among MS patients.…”

Section: Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preventing suicidal behavior in patients with multiple sclerosis: a scoping review

Mellentin

Stenager

2018

Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction: Suicidal behavior is a relatively rare occurrence among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Nonetheless, it is important to identify and be aware of the constituting risk factors to prevent suicidal behavior among vulnerable patients. Areas covered: This scoped review will shortly outline well-known biological and psycho-social risk factors for suicidal behavior among MS patients and suggest preventive initiatives. The preventive strategies should include a close monitoring of MS pharmacotherapy to prevent progression, and awareness and early identification of psycho-social risk factors across a variety of heath care and social instances the patient may encounter during their life with the disease. The staff in these instances should be educated in detecting the MS patients at increased risk and refer them to relevant healthcare instances, including the general practitioner, neurologists, psychiatrist etc.. In addition, referral to social instances to support educational, vocational and home environment to the state of the disease is of utmost importance. Expert Commentary: Enhancing quality of life for as long as possible by these means may be held to reduce the risk for psycho-social problems and hence suicidal behavior.

show abstract

Stress and multiple sclerosis: A systematic review considering potential moderating and mediating factors and methods of assessing stress

Cited by 54 publications

References 58 publications

Development and Validation of Fear of Relapse Scale for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding Stressors in Patients

Development and Validation of Fear of Relapse Scale for Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding Stressors in Patients

A case-control study of psychosocial factors and their relationship to impairment and functionality in multiple sclerosis

Preventing suicidal behavior in patients with multiple sclerosis: a scoping review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About