Multiple Skleroz Lu Hastaların Stresle Baş Etme Tarzlarının ve Psikiyatrik Belirtilerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

The current study was conducted as a descriptive research in order to describe the ways that multiple sclerosis patients apply to cope with stress and to evaluate their psychiatric symptoms. Research sample was chosen from 245 MS patients who have registered to The Multiple Sclerosis Association Turkey, Ankara Office, are living within the boundaries of Ankara town and finally, agreed to participate in the study. Data was collected by applying an introductory information form, Ways of Coping Inventory and the Brief Symptom Inventory. In assessing the data we used percentile, Mann- Whitney – U, Kruskal Wallis and Pearson Correlation tests. The complete study revealed that married mothers with 3 children, unemployed, and the patients who are supported by both nurses and doctors accepted a more unconfident and submissive approach, applied for less social support; with a higher educational degree, with a smaller EDSS score, who gained both doctors and nurses support and were on interferon therapy were more optimistic and self-confident. Female patients experienced somatization; married patients had anxiety, pessimistic egos, hostility; unemployed patients experienced depression, those who had less incomes than their expenses suffered from depression, the patient who acquired social support during disease progression had more anxiety and somatization experiences and the last but not the least, as years go by after the first diagnosis; the pessimistic personality perception as well increases. The patients were found to have less depression, somatization, pessimistic ego and hostility complaints as they were more educated. The study revealed a positive significant relationship between the use of unconfident approach and the presence of anxiety, depression and a negative personality. In the light of these data acquired, we recommend that female multiple sclerosis patients who are married with children, should be acknowledged as under risk for psychiatric symptoms, they should be planned and given an effective treatment for upcoming psychiatric problems. Besides, as these patients are known to have psychiatric symptoms risk apart from disability; we recommend that they should undergo protective mental health guidance within the early courses.