Emotional stress AND Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and unpredictable inflammatory disease impacting the central nervous system. The disabling nature of this disease is not limited to only physical symptoms. MS, even at a pediatric age, often includes cognitive impairment, fatigue, and psychological issues, affecting education and social life, causing emotional distress, and reducing quality of life. Despite the paucity of quantitative data in the existing literature, our review demonstrates that the impact of pediatric MS extends beyond the patients themselves, affecting their parents as well...

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effects of Dignity Therapy (DT) on the physical, existential, and psychosocial symptoms of individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS: This is a mixed-methods case study research that used the concurrent triangulation strategy to analyze the effects of DT on 3 individuals with ALS. Data collection included 3 instances of administering validated scales to assess multiple physical symptoms, anxiety, depression, spiritual well-being, and the Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI), followed by the implementation of DT and a semi-structured interview...

BACKGROUND: Caregivers of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) report poor emotional outcomes yet few interventions have been tested. The goal of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a remotely delivered intervention with 2 arms (ie, website and telecoaching vs website only) aimed at reducing depression, anxiety, stress, and distress in informal caregivers of individuals with MS. METHODS: From March 2021 through August 2021, 151 care-givers were enrolled in the study...

Understanding the relationship between microorganisms that live in our intestines and neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative pathologies of the central nervous system (CNS) is essential, since they have been shown to have an immunomodulatory effect in neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The gut microbiota can be affected by several environmental factors, including infections, physical and emotional stress and diet, the latter known as the main modulator of intestinal bacteria. An abrupt shift in the gut microbiota composition and function is known as dysbiosis, a state of local and systemic inflammation produced by pathogenic bacteria and its metabolites responsible for numerous neurological symptoms...

Central neuropathic pain (CNP) and musculoskeletal pain (MSP) are often comorbid with multiple sclerosis (MS), yet data on the emotional burden entailed by this comorbidity are very limited. We studied whether MS patients with CNP exhibited greater emotional burden and pain severity than those with MSP and whether this emotional burden was attributed to the MS, the chronic pain, or both. Participants were 125 MS patients (55 with CNP; 30 with MSP; 40 MS pain-free) and 30 healthy controls (HCs). Participants completed questionnaires assessing pain interference, pain catastrophizing, depression, anxiety, stress, hypervigilance, and chronic pain...

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that affects nearly one million Americans. Despite the existence of immunomodulatory therapies to slow physical and cognitive disability progression, interventions to ameliorate common symptoms of MS, including fatigue and pain, remain limited. Poor understanding of risk factors for these symptoms may contribute to treatment challenges. In recent years, childhood stress has been investigated as a risk factor for chronic autoimmune conditions including MS; yet remarkably few studies have investigated the relationship between childhood stressors and chronic MS symptoms...

BACKGROUND: Relationships between stressful life events (SLEs) and health outcomes in people living with multiple sclerosis (plwMS), beyond relapse, are not well-established. We examined associations between SLEs and fatigue and symptoms of depression in plwMS. METHODS: 948 participants were queried whether they had experienced any of the 16 SLEs (Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale) in the preceding 12 months. SLEs were summated to estimate SLE number and SLE load (weighted for the degree of associated stress)...

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease associated with increased mortality and poor morbidity, impairing the quality of life in patients. Whilst we know that SSc affects multiple organs via vasculopathy, inflammation, and fibrosis, its exact pathophysiology remains elusive. Microvascular injury and vasculopathy are the initial pathological features of the disease. Clinically, the vasculopathy in SSc is manifested as Raynaud's phenomenon (reversible vasospasm in reaction to the cold or emotional stress) and digital ulcers due to ischemic injury...

BACKGROUND: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease with a high prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Mindfulness is a practice that encourages individuals to cultivate a present-focused, acceptance-based approach for managing psychological distress. Its positive effect on MS has been demonstrated, but learning such technique is expensive and time-consuming. In this study, we investigated the feasibility and efficacy of an 8-week, at-home, smart-device aided mindfulness program in a cohort of MS patients...

Black Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience higher levels of disease-related disability compared to White Americans (Marrie et al., 2006). Comorbidities such as depression and anxiety, which are underdiagnosed and undertreated in this population, negatively impact quality of life and treatment outcomes for people living with multiple sclerosis (plwMS) (D'Alisa et al., 2006; Marrie et al., 2009; Stepleman et al., 2014). Acts of discrimination toward Black Americans is associated with stress, which is a contributing factor for depression (Carter, 2017; Nadimpalli, 2015; Williams and Mohammed, 2009)...

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is characterised by significant symptom diversity and complexity. The unpredictability of the symptoms and the emotional and cognitive facets of the disease have a significant impact on the patients' quality of life, relationships and other significant areas of living. Psychological interventions have been found to have moderate effects on quality of life, depression, stress reduction, improvement of wellbeing, anxiety, fatigue, sleep disturbances and emotion regulation. Most interventions so far are based on generic models of therapy which cannot always cover the complexity and unpredictability of MS...

Climate change is contributing to increasingly hazardous tropical cyclones that endanger persons living in susceptible coastal and island communities. People living with chronic illness, including multiple sclerosis (MS), face unique challenges and vulnerabilities when exposed to hurricane hazards. Disaster and emergency preparedness requires a customized approach that considers the necessary adaptations to accommodate the mobility, self-care, sensory, cognitive, and communication impairments of persons living with MS...

OBJECTIVE: Mindfulness is an established approach to reduce distress and stress reactivity by improving awareness and tolerability of thoughts and emotions. This study compares mindfulness training to sleep hygiene in persons with multiple sclerosis (PWMS) who report chronic insomnia, examining sleep efficiency (SE), self-reported sleep quality and quality of life. METHODS: Fifty-three PWMS were randomized (1:1) in a single-blinded, parallel group design to ten, two-hour weekly sessions of Mindfulness Based Stress Intervention for Insomnia (MBSI-I) over a span of ten weeks or a single, one hour sleep hygiene (SH) session over one day...

PURPOSE: Sexual motives are major determinants of sexual behaviour. It has been known that sexual motives may vary according to circumstances. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease causing a broad range of symptoms and disabilities, that often interfere with sexual activities. We aimed to investigate the sexual motives in persons with MS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study in 157 persons with MS and 157 controls matched for age, gender, relationship, duration of relationship and educational status via propensity score matching...

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that leads to neurological impairment and disability, mostly in young-aged people. Depression and anxiety are important associated mental disorders for people with MS (PwMS), which influence their life quality. During the COVID-19 pandemic, fear and stress levels enhanced dramatically for the general population, but mostly in progressive chronic pathologies such as MS. AIM: This study aimed to analyze the dynamic of psychological aspects in PwMS pre-pandemic and during pandemic, their connection with clinical outcomes, and with the coronavirus disease...

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is mainly characterized by chest pain, left ventricular dysfunction, ST-segment deviation on electrocardiogram (ECG) and elevated troponins in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. Diagnostic features include left ventricular systolic dysfunction shown on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with wall motion abnormalities, generally with the typical "apical ballooning" pattern. In very rare cases, it involves a reverse form which is characterized by basal and mid-ventricular severe hypokinesia or akinesia, and sparing of the apex...

In many countries, the COVID-19 pandemic led to healthcare reorganization limiting access to diagnostic or therapeutic procedures for chronically-ill patients. In this article, we describe the psychological consequences and coping strategies of several groups of chronically-ill patients. During the cross-sectional survey conducted in 2020, we enrolled 398 patients with four different chronic conditions (psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and patients who have undergone a kidney transplant or received dialysis)...

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact communities around the world. In this study, we explored the COVID-19 experiences of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and carers. METHODS: Using a qualitative approach, interviews were undertaken with 27 participants residing in Australia (10 persons with MS, 10 carers and 7 MS service providers). Demographic and background data were also collected. Interviews were analysed using an inductive iterative thematic analysis...

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS), which is frequently seen in young adults, affects mental health because of disease symptoms and cognitive disorders. This study was conducted to evaluate the presence of alexithymia and problem- or emotion-focused coping strategies with stress in MS patients, determine the relationship between these variables, and compare the results of MS patients with those of healthy individuals. METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional, and comparative study was carried out with the participation of 120 MS patients presenting to a neurology clinic and outpatient clinic of a university hospital and 120 healthy individuals...

BACKGROUND: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) were vulnerable to the effects of physical inactivity during the COVID-19 pandemic. As patients returned to in-person visits, providers reported seeing increased weakness, balance issues, falls, worsening pain, and spasticity. Social isolation also contributed to increased stress, depression, and anxiety. This study explored whether attending virtual wellness programs was associated with improvements in standard quality of life questionnaire scores for patients with MS...