Personality Trait and Coping Strategies in Multiple Sclerosis: Neuropsychological and Radiological Correlation

[摘要] Background: Personality trait represents one of the major factors influencing different aspects in quality of life and treatment compliance in multiple sclerosis. Objective: Explore personality changes and coping strategies and detect their relation with subcortical brain atrophy in multiple sclerosis. Methods: Forty multiple sclerosis patients, compared to 20 healthy matched controls, were evaluated by Mini-mental State Examination, Quality of life questionnaire, the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Coping Processes Scale. Bicaudate ratio was measured from MRI FLAIR images to measure subcortical brain atrophy. Results: Progressive MS patients were older (39.39±6.94 vs. 29.23±7.72; P<0.01), and more disabled than remitting relapsing subjects (mean EDSS 5.9±1.2 versus 4.3±0.8). A highly statistically significant difference (p<0.01) was found between MS and control groups as regards coping mechanisms dealing with problem source where patients showed low score in exercite restrain (37.5%) compared to control group (6.7%). There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in positive reinterpretation being higher in MS group (37.5%) compared to control group (10%). Psychoticism was more frequent in patients when compared to control. Bicaudate ratio was positively correlated with age, disease duration, severity and type of multiple sclerosis while it was inversely correlated with progression index. No correlation was detected between bicaudate ratio and personality trait. Conclusion: It is important to move from medical focus alone to include personality trait rehabilitation and programs with more problem-focused coping strategies with MS to help patients adjust to their illness. [Egypt J Neurol Psychiat Neurosurg.  2011; 48(1): 71-78]

[学科分类] 精神健康和精神病学