Multiple sclerosis and mental health related quality of life: The role of defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment

Background: Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating chronic neurologic disease that can lead to disability and thus to deterioration of quality of life. Psychological parameters such as ego defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment are important factors in the adaptation process, and...

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Main Authors: Anthi Amaslidou, Ioanna Ierodiakonou-Benou, Christos Bakirtzis, Ioannis Nikolaidis, Theano Tatsi, Nikolaos Grigoriadis, Ioannis Nimatoudis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIMS Press 2023-11-01
Series:AIMS Neuroscience
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/Neuroscience.2023027?viewType=HTML
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author Anthi Amaslidou
Ioanna Ierodiakonou-Benou
Christos Bakirtzis
Ioannis Nikolaidis
Theano Tatsi
Nikolaos Grigoriadis
Ioannis Nimatoudis
author_facet Anthi Amaslidou
Ioanna Ierodiakonou-Benou
Christos Bakirtzis
Ioannis Nikolaidis
Theano Tatsi
Nikolaos Grigoriadis
Ioannis Nimatoudis
author_sort Anthi Amaslidou
collection DOAJ
description Background: Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating chronic neurologic disease that can lead to disability and thus to deterioration of quality of life. Psychological parameters such as ego defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment are important factors in the adaptation process, and as such they can play important roles in QoL. This study aims to assess the psychological factors as well as the clinical and demographic characteristics related to mental health quality of life (MHQoL). Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of 90 people with MS in the years 2018–2020. All participants completed the following questionnaires: MSQoL-54, DSQ-88, LSI, FES-R, SOC, BDI-II, STAI. Disability was assessed using EDSS. Results:In multiple linear regression, significant roles were played by depression (R<sup>2</sup>: 41.1%, p: 0.001) and, to a lesser extent, the event of a relapse (R<sup>2</sup>: 3.5%, p: 0.005), expressiveness (R<sup>2</sup>: 3.6%, p &lt; 0.05) and image distortion style (R<sup>2</sup>: 4.5%, p: 0.032). After performing a hierarchical-stepwise analysis (excluding depression), the important factors were maladaptive defense style (R<sup>2</sup>: 23.7%, p: 0.002), the event of relapse (R<sup>2</sup>: 8.1%, p &lt; 0.001), expressiveness (R<sup>2</sup>: 5.5%, p: 0.004) and self-sacrificing defense style (R<sup>2</sup>: 2.4%, p: 0.071). Conclusion: Psychological factors play important roles in MHQoL of people with multiple sclerosis. Thus, neurologists should integrate in their practice an assessment by mental health specialists. Moreover, targeted psychotherapeutic interventions could be planned i to improve QoL.
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spelling doaj.art-364cea7ac0b84bab86e1824fb4bcdc092024-01-04T01:20:06ZengAIMS PressAIMS Neuroscience2373-79722023-11-0110435437510.3934/Neuroscience.2023027Multiple sclerosis and mental health related quality of life: The role of defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environmentAnthi Amaslidou0Ioanna Ierodiakonou-Benou1Christos Bakirtzis2Ioannis Nikolaidis3Theano Tatsi 4Nikolaos Grigoriadis5Ioannis Nimatoudis61. 3<sup>rd</sup> Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece1. 3<sup>rd</sup> Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece2. 2<sup>nd</sup> Department of Neurology, MS Center, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece2. 2<sup>nd</sup> Department of Neurology, MS Center, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece2. 2<sup>nd</sup> Department of Neurology, MS Center, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece2. 2<sup>nd</sup> Department of Neurology, MS Center, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece1. 3<sup>rd</sup> Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, GreeceBackground: Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating chronic neurologic disease that can lead to disability and thus to deterioration of quality of life. Psychological parameters such as ego defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment are important factors in the adaptation process, and as such they can play important roles in QoL. This study aims to assess the psychological factors as well as the clinical and demographic characteristics related to mental health quality of life (MHQoL). Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study conducted in a sample of 90 people with MS in the years 2018–2020. All participants completed the following questionnaires: MSQoL-54, DSQ-88, LSI, FES-R, SOC, BDI-II, STAI. Disability was assessed using EDSS. Results:In multiple linear regression, significant roles were played by depression (R<sup>2</sup>: 41.1%, p: 0.001) and, to a lesser extent, the event of a relapse (R<sup>2</sup>: 3.5%, p: 0.005), expressiveness (R<sup>2</sup>: 3.6%, p &lt; 0.05) and image distortion style (R<sup>2</sup>: 4.5%, p: 0.032). After performing a hierarchical-stepwise analysis (excluding depression), the important factors were maladaptive defense style (R<sup>2</sup>: 23.7%, p: 0.002), the event of relapse (R<sup>2</sup>: 8.1%, p &lt; 0.001), expressiveness (R<sup>2</sup>: 5.5%, p: 0.004) and self-sacrificing defense style (R<sup>2</sup>: 2.4%, p: 0.071). Conclusion: Psychological factors play important roles in MHQoL of people with multiple sclerosis. Thus, neurologists should integrate in their practice an assessment by mental health specialists. Moreover, targeted psychotherapeutic interventions could be planned i to improve QoL. https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/Neuroscience.2023027?viewType=HTMLmultiple sclerosisdefense mechanismsfamily relationsquality of life
spellingShingle Anthi Amaslidou
Ioanna Ierodiakonou-Benou
Christos Bakirtzis
Ioannis Nikolaidis
Theano Tatsi
Nikolaos Grigoriadis
Ioannis Nimatoudis
Multiple sclerosis and mental health related quality of life: The role of defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment
AIMS Neuroscience
multiple sclerosis
defense mechanisms
family relations
quality of life
title Multiple sclerosis and mental health related quality of life: The role of defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment
title_full Multiple sclerosis and mental health related quality of life: The role of defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment
title_fullStr Multiple sclerosis and mental health related quality of life: The role of defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment
title_full_unstemmed Multiple sclerosis and mental health related quality of life: The role of defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment
title_short Multiple sclerosis and mental health related quality of life: The role of defense mechanisms, defense styles and family environment
title_sort multiple sclerosis and mental health related quality of life the role of defense mechanisms defense styles and family environment
topic multiple sclerosis
defense mechanisms
family relations
quality of life
url https://www.aimspress.com/article/doi/10.3934/Neuroscience.2023027?viewType=HTML
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