Living with Multiple Sclerosis: an exploratory study of some psychological and demographic aspects

Abstract

The study explored the nature of the involvement of certain demographic (gender, age and education), cognitive (specifically executive functions) and psychological factors (personality changes and other psychosocial issues) in the disease process in a group of MS patients. A sample of 20 adults (8 male and 12 female) with a mean age of 47,65 years was employed. The assessments procedure entailed a set of neuropsychological measures, a 16 PF questionnaire and a semi-structured interview (with a significant other) from which certain qualitative themes were extracted. The MS sufferers showed deficiencies on measures of executive function, a 16 PF profile in accordance with that of individuals with physical illness and the qualitative themes revolved around issues such as mood, independence, work-status, self-confidence and cognitive difficulties. The data resulting from these assessments supported one another and served to enrich our knowledge regarding the life world of the person with MS.