Mind over matter: Cognitive - behavioral determinants of emotional distress in multiple sclerosis patients
Author: Chalk, Holly McCartney1
Source: Psychology, Health and Medicine, Volume 12, Number 5, October 2007 , pp. 556-566(11)
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Abstract:
Given the high incidence and unique symptomatology of depression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, the current study examined the role of cognitive and behavioral variables in predicting psychosocial adjustment in this population, in order to suggest psychotherapeutic interventions tailored specifically to MS patients. Data from 329 MS patients indicated that problem solving coping, acceptance coping, and challenge appraisals were associated with positive psychological adjustment (i.e., high life satisfaction, low depression and anxiety), whereas variables measuring disease severity (i.e., illness duration, subjective health status, and self-reported disability) were not associated with adjustment. These findings suggest that MS patients' psychological outcomes are more related to controllable cognitive and behavioral factors than to the physical effects of the disease. Consequently, it is expected that interventions that target these specific coping strategies and cognitive appraisals will be effective in treating the emotional effects of MS.Keywords: Cognitive appraisals; coping; multiple sclerosis; psychological adjustment
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1080/13548500701244965
Affiliations: 1: Clinical-Counseling Psychology, McDaniel College, Westminster, MD, USA
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