Relation between personality disorders and characteristics of multiple sclerosis patients and their parents

AIM AND BACKGROUND: Given the fact that immune system is greatly affected by people's emotional characteristics and since these characteristics are mainly formed through interactions with one's parents, this study aims to determine the relation between personality characteristics and disorders of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and their parents. METHODS: This is an applied, descriptive study on 88 MS patients and 63 parents who had visited two physiotherapy clinics in Tehran between January and August 2016. Participants who met the inclusion criteria were selected using convenient sampling method. After acquiring their consent, participants were asked to fill the millon personality questionnaire. Gathered data were analyzed using Pearson and Spearman tests. R statistical software was also used to draw histogram of the data. RESULTS: The most common personality disorder in MS patients includes histrionic personality disorder while the most common problems among their parents included histrionic personality disorder and obsessive character traits. There was also a direct, significant relation between histrionic personality disorder and narcissistic traits in parents and patients. CONCLUSIONS: Due to unknown nature and progress of MS, studying personality characteristics of patients and their parents can help determine better treatment methods along with advances in neurological treatments.