The purpose of the study was to explore the utility of stress-reduction techniques within a population of hospitalized multiple sclerosis patients. Four stress-management groups, each composed of 8 to 10 patients, were formed with each participant receiving a pre- and posttest battery focusing on emotional/mood factors (the Profile of Mood States). Group sessions were held once/weekly for 13 wk. Relaxation, cognitive, and behavioral strategies were incorporated into the program. The findings indicate that stress-management techniques were effective in the reduction of psychological distress. Significant decreases were noted in scores on depression and anxiety and significant increase on vigor.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BaretzR. M.StephensonG. R. (1981) Emotional responses to multiple sclerosis. Psychosomatics, 22, 117–119, 122–123, 126–127.
2.
BricknerR. (1950) The significance of localized vasoconstrictions in multiple sclerosis: transient, sudden miniature attacks of MS. Proceedings of the Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Disease, 28, 236–244.
3.
DerogatisL. R. (1982) Self-report measures of stress. In GoldbergerL.BreznitzS. (Eds.), Handbook of stress: theoretical and clinical aspects. New York: Free Press. Pp. 270–294.
4.
FrealJ. E.KraftG. H.CoryellJ. K. (1984) Symptomatic fatigue in multiple sclerosis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 65, 135–138.
5.
GrinkerR. R.HamC. G.RobbinsF. P. (1950) Some psychodynamic factors in multiple sclerosis. Proceedings of the Association for Research in Nervous and Mental Disease, 28, 456–460.
6.
ImberS. D. (1975) Patient direct self-report techniques. In WaskowI. E.ParloffM. B. (Eds.), Psychotherapy change measures. Rockville, MD: National Institute of Mental Health. Pp. 40–47.
7.
JohnsonD. T.SpielbergerC. D. (1968) The effects of relaxation training and the passage of time on measures of state- and trait-anxiety. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 24, 20–23.
8.
KraftG. H.FrealJ. E.CoryellJ. K. (1986) Disability, disease duration, and rehabilitation service needs in multiple sclerosis: patient perspectives. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 67, 164–168.
9.
KurtzkeJ. F. (1965) Further notes on disability evaluation in multiple sclerosis with scale modifications. Neurology, 15, 654–661.
10.
KurtzkeJ. F. (1981) A proposal for a uniform minimal record of disability in multiple sclerosis. Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, 64 (Suppl. 87), 110–129.
11.
LefcourtH. M. (1983) The locus of control as a moderator variable: stress. In LefcourtH. M. (Ed.), Research with the locus of control construct. Vol. 2. New York: Academic Press. Pp. 253–268.
12.
MayR. (1977) The meaning of anxiety. New York: Norton.
13.
McNairD. M. (1974) Self-evaluations of anti-depressants. Psychopharmacologia, 37, 281–302.
14.
McNairD. M.LorrM.DropplemanI. F. (1971) Manual for the Profile of Mood States. San Diego, CA: Educational and Industrial Testing Service.
15.
Mei-TalV.MeyerowitzS.EngelG. L. (1970) The role of psychological process in somatic disorder: multiple sclerosis: emotional setting of illness onset and exacerbation. Psychosomatic Medicine, 32, 67–68.
16.
PhilippopoulosG. S.WittkowerE. D.CousineauA. (1958) The etiologic significance of emotional factors in onset and exacerbations of multiple sclerosis: a preliminary report. Psychosomatic Medicine, 20, 458–474.
17.
PrattR. (1951) An investigation of the psychiatric aspects of disseminated sclerosis. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 14, 326–336.
18.
ShontzF. C. (1956) Some psychological problems of patients with multiple sclerosis. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 37, 218–220.
19.
SpielbergerC. D. (1972) Anxiety as an emotional state. In SpielbergerC. D. (Ed.), Anxiety: current trends in theory and research. Vol. 1. New York: Academic Press. Pp. 23–49.
20.
StewartD. C.SullivanT. J. (1982) Illness behavior and the sick role in chronic disease: the case of multiple sclerosis. Social Science Medicine, 161397–1404.
21.
VineyL. L.WestbrookM. T. (1981) Psychological reactions to chronic illness-related disability as a function of its severity and type. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 25, 513–523.
22.
WilkinsonL. (1984) The system for statistics. (Computer program). Evanston IL: SYSTAT.
23.
ZeldowP. B.PavlouM. (1984) Physical disability, life stress, and psychosocial adjustment in multiple sclerosis. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 172, 80–84.
