Schenk Alina, Popa Cosmin Octavian, Cojocaru Cristiana Manuela, Marian Ștefan, Maier Smaranda, Bălașa Rodica
The Doctoral School of George Emil Palade, University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Targu-Mures, Romania.
Department of Ethics and Social Science, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, 540142 Targu-Mures, Romania.
J Pers Med. 2024 Jun 25;14(7):682. doi: 10.3390/jpm14070682.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative immunological disease causing significant impairment in all life areas. Therefore, personality changes are observed and associated with higher prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders. Considering this relationship, we hypothesized that clinical symptoms and personality disorders are more prevalent in MS and that dysfunctional psychological mechanisms mediate the path from personality disorders to clinical symptoms.
The study sample consisted of 43 patients with MS (age M = 41.9, SD = 11.5) and 31 controls (age M = 39.8, SD = 10.3). Measures of personality, anxiety, depression, fatigue, health status, and dysfunctional psychological mechanisms were conducted.
The prevalence of clinical symptoms was increased in MS patients as compared to controls. Also, dependent and schizoid personality traits (PTs) were observed in the patient sample. Negative automatic thoughts (NATs) were found to mediate the association between dependent PT and clinical symptoms. Along with schizoid PT, all dysfunctional psychological mechanisms impacted clinical symptoms.
The results of our research are in line with previous studies showing that anxiety, depression, and dysfunctional personality traits are more prevalent in MS as compared to controls.
PTs and dysfunctional psychological mechanisms predicted depression, anxiety, fatigue, and health status in MS patients. Cognition acts as a strong mediator between PTs and psychopathology in MS. Hence, integrative personalized psychological treatment is recommended to improve the quality of care in MS.
多发性硬化症（MS）是一种神经退行性免疫疾病，会对生活的各个方面造成严重损害。因此，会观察到人格变化，并与抑郁症和焦虑症的较高患病率相关。考虑到这种关系，我们假设临床症状和人格障碍在MS中更为普遍，并且功能失调的心理机制介导了从人格障碍到临床症状的路径。
研究样本包括43例MS患者（年龄M = 41.9，标准差 = 11.5）和31名对照者（年龄M = 39.8，标准差 = 10.3）。进行了人格、焦虑、抑郁、疲劳、健康状况和功能失调心理机制的测量。
与对照组相比，MS患者临床症状的患病率有所增加。此外，在患者样本中观察到了依赖型和分裂样人格特质（PTs）。发现消极自动思维（NATs）介导了依赖型PT与临床症状之间的关联。除了分裂样PT外，所有功能失调的心理机制都影响临床症状。
我们的研究结果与先前的研究一致，表明与对照组相比，焦虑、抑郁和功能失调的人格特质在MS中更为普遍。
PTs和功能失调的心理机制可预测MS患者的抑郁、焦虑、疲劳和健康状况。认知在MS中PTs与精神病理学之间起着强大的中介作用。因此，建议采用综合个性化心理治疗来提高MS的护理质量。
