Recognition of the Kind of Stress Coping in Patients of Multiple Sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Investigations have shown that some factors like stress can increase the recurrence and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS). Considering the direct influences of depression and anxiety on our body immunity system, and also the relation between stress and factors, such as Insulin Growth Factor (IGF-1), involved in neurogenesis and myelin repairing, it is an essential issue to identify the most common method used in relieving stress by such patients. OBJECTIVE: To identify the type of common coping methods for stressful situation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case–control study was performed on 50 patients of both the genders with MS in Esfahan (Esfahan MS Association). The data were collected and then analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) method with the help of SPSS software version 15. P value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. RESULTS: In our study, coping method for stressful situation was significantly different in MS patients versus the healthy group (P=0.02). Descriptive indices showed that these patients use avoidant method more commonly than the control group (mean=45.01, SD=8.9 vs. mean=40.8, SD=11.8, respectively). CONCLUSION: Due to the different methods used by MS patients to cope with stressful situation in comparison with the healthy ones, more appropriate techniques can be introduced to modify them, and hence, less stress-induced side effects could be expected in this population.