Determining psychological and social factors causing stress in patients with multiple sclerosis

The stress has an effective role in activity and exacerbation of chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Multiple sclerosis is one of the most disabling diseases that affect different aspects of patient's life. The aim of this study was to determine the psycho-social factors causing stress in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive causal-comparative study that was performed on 184 patients who were registered in Isfahan MS community and were selected randomly. The measuring instrument was the researcher-developed 24-item questionnaire which assessed psycho-social stressful factors in MS patients. The face and content validity of the questionnaire was investigated and verified by specialists. Also, the reliability of the questionnaire was estimated to be 0.89 by Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient. The data were analyzed by t-test one sample (one variable).
Results: Mean scores of social factors: providing treatment expenses, concern about offspring's future and their marriage were greater than moderate level while other factors like reduction in occupational efficiency and social communications were less than moderate level. Meanwhile, the mean scores of psychological factors: preoccupation with disease, fear of death, and worry about future were greater than moderate level in MS patients.
Conclusion: As the results indicate, providing treatment expenses, worry about offspring's future, and marriage are accounted as stressful social factors. The findings also show that preoccupation with disease, fear of death and worry about future are considered as stressful psychological factors in MS patients.