Search

Aim. Assessment of the selected aspects of memory in Polish patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the associations between memory and clinical course, neurological status, mood, fatigue, and employment status. Material and methods. The initial five learning trials of the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), the initial three learning trials of the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-revised (BVMT-R), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale were administered to 100 MS patients and 150 healthy participants (HP). Results. The MS group performed worse than the HP group on both the CVLT and the BVMT-R. The lowest scores were obtained by secondary progressive MS patients. There were significant differences between the MS and HP group on fatigue and depression, but not anxiety. Multivariate analysis showed worse neurological status was the only clinical predictor of memory disturbances. CVLT scores were significantly associated with employment status. Conclusions. Memory impairment occurs in patients with MS and affects employment status. Depressive symptoms, anxiety and fatigue, unlike neurological status, were not directly related to memory status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain is one of the most frequently reported symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). It affects the daily functioning of patients, limits the ability to work and reduces the joy of life. Aim. The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of pain on quality of life as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with MS. Material and methods. The study included 144 patients with diagnosed MS (mean age 41±12 years, mean illness duration 10.3±8.6 years). The study was carried out on the basis of the author's survey on current and previous pain - the Quality of Life Self-esteem Questionnaire (EuroQol5D) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results. Among all respondents, 117 (81.3%) reported current pain, and 120 (83.3%) declared the occurrence of pain in the past. Currently, patients have reported: pain in one or more extremities - 79 people (54.9%), headache and facial pain - 72 (50%), back pain - 72 (50%), painful muscle spasms - 54 (38.6%), ocular pain - 37 (25.7%), Lhermitte's sign - 32 (22.2%). Patients reporting pain experienced significantly more severe symptoms of anxiety and depression (HADS-L: 8.0±4.3 vs. 5.1±4.3; p< 0.01; HADS-D: 6.0±4.2 vs. 3.4±3.7; p< 0.01), and had significantly worse quality of life (EQ 5D: 8.1±1.9 vs. 6.3±1.4; p< 0.0001). An association between presence of pain and gender (p< 0.01), age (p< 0.05), the degree of disability (p< 0.05), education (p< 0.001), and the professional activity (p< 0.01) was found. Conclusions. Pain in MS is associated with more severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, and worse quality of life. Female sex, older age, lower level of education, greater disability, and lack of occupational work predispose to the occurrence of pain in MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. Quality of life and need for social support in persons diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) are to a large extent determined by the degree of their disability. The aim of the study was to analyze an association between specific forms of MS, subjectively perceived quality of life and social support. Method. The study included subjects with established diagnosis of MS, treated at rehabilitation centers, hospitals and in a home setting, as well as the members of patient organizations. After being informed about objectives of the study, type of included tasks and way to complete them, each participant was handed out a set of questionnaires: Berlin Social Support Scales (Łuszczyńska, Kowalska, Schwarzer, Schulz), Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOLBREF), as well as a survey developed specifically for the purposes of this project. The results were subjected to statistical analysis with STATA 12 package. Results. The study included a total of 110 persons (67 women and 43 men). Quality of life overall, as well in physical, psychological, social relationships and environmental health domains, turned out to be particularly important in patients with primary-progressive MS. Irrespective of MS type, social support overall did not play a significant role on univariate analysis. However, subgroup analysis according to sex demonstrated that men with MS received social support four times less often than women. Conclusions. Quality of life in individuals with primary-progressive MS is significantly lower than in patients presenting with other types of this disease. Men with MS are more likely to present with worse scores for social support overall. They are less likely both to acknowledge the need for support and to realize the availability of support they actually need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine temporal orientation in patients diagnosed with RR-MS as compared with that of healthy individuals; to analyse self-evaluated acceptance levels in terms of physical and psychological condition and self-reliance; an attempt to identify factors of illness acceptance in patients with RR-MS including temporal perspective. Method: Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS, adapted into Polish by Z. Juczyński), Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI, adapted into Polish by M. Mażewski), and original interview aimed to assess socio-demographic data and self-evaluated physical as well as psychological condition and self-reliance of patients with MS (referred to the neurological testing according to the EDSS). Results: Patients with RR-MS focus on fatalistic and hedonistic present more than healthy individuals. They also tend to reflect on their negative past experience. Acceptance of illness correlated positively with subjective assessment of physical and psychological condition as well as self-reliance, and negatively with objective disability score (measured with the use of EDSS) and a factor considering time of disease duration. Conclusions: Avoiding contemplation of negative past and concentrating on hedonistic future constitute significant predictors of illness acceptance. These results may be of importance in terms of holistic approach to treatment of RR-MS patients. In the initial stage of the disease progression, patients might benefit from psychological support due to change in temporal orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psychiatria Polska is the property of Editorial Committee of Polish Psychiatric Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The results of contemporary neuropsychological analyses lay foundation for a broad discussion of the nature and causes of cognitive deficits in MS patients. Aim. The aim of this study was to determine the level of alternating attention and dominant reaction inhibition in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients, with consideration of their mood level, age and disease duration. Method. Experimental group consisted of 43 adults (30 women and 13 men) diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, with Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) results ranging between 2.5-6.5. Control group comprised 38 healthy adults (26 women and 12 men) selected according to sex, age and education. The following tasks were used in the study: the Trail Making Test A and B (TMT), Stroop Colour-Word Test (SCWT), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Results. Experimental group was characterized by significantly worse performance in TMT (p<0.001) and SCWT (p<0.001) than the control group. No differences were observed in performance of TMT (p>0.05) and SCWT (p>0.05) in the experimental group between subjects with depressed and neutral mood. Disease duration proved significantly related to the level of dominant reaction inhibition (p<0.001). Conclusions. Cognitive impairments within areas of concentration, attention shifting and dominant reaction inhibition were all revealed in the experimental group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psychiatria Polska is the property of Editorial Committee of Polish Psychiatric Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)