Cuerda-Ballester María, Sancho-Cantus David, Martínez-Rubio David, Proaño-Olmos Belén, García-Pardo María Pilar, de la Rubia Ortí José Enrique
Doctoral Degree School, Catholic University San Vicente Mártir, 46001 Valencia, Spain.
Department of Nursing, Catholic University San Vicente Mártir, 46001 Valencia, Spain.
Behav Sci (Basel). 2024 Oct 10;14(10):930. doi: 10.3390/bs14100930.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that presents with both motor and non-motor symptoms, with anxiety and depression being prominent and potentially exacerbated by negative thoughts. Therefore, the experiential avoidance (EA) exhibited by patients post diagnosis is particularly relevant. This study aimed to measure the degree of EA in patients with MS and determine its relationship with emotional disturbances. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a sample of 64 patients diagnosed with MS. In October 2018, these patients underwent evaluations of functional and cognitive variables, such as anxiety, depression, and avoidant behaviors towards the disease, using the Expanded Disability Status Scale, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II, Self-Compassion Scale Short Form, Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire-15, prefrontal symptoms inventory, Beck Depression Inventory II, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory to assess coping mechanisms in handling the disease. Higher levels of state anxiety (β = 0.79; < 0.001), trait anxiety (β = 0.82; < 0.001), and depression (β = 0.62; < 0.001) were observed in patients with MS as their EA and psychological inflexibility increased. Participants with high self-compassion/self-acceptance tended to have fewer negative thoughts and exhibited better coping with the disease, which may, in turn, affect patterns of psychological rigidity or inflexibility. Dimensions such as kindness and humility could act as positive factors in coping with the disease, whereas self-judgment and isolation are negative elements often associated with avoidant behaviors that hinder effective coping with the illness.
多发性硬化症（MS）是一种神经退行性疾病，会出现运动和非运动症状，焦虑和抑郁较为突出，消极思维可能会使其加剧。因此，确诊后患者表现出的经验性回避（EA）尤为重要。本研究旨在测量MS患者的EA程度，并确定其与情绪障碍的关系。采用横断面描述性研究方法，对64例确诊为MS的患者进行了抽样。2018年10月，使用扩展残疾状态量表、接受与行动问卷-II、自我同情量表简版、五因素正念问卷-15、前额叶症状量表、贝克抑郁量表-II和状态-特质焦虑量表对这些患者进行了功能和认知变量评估，如焦虑、抑郁以及对疾病的回避行为，以评估应对疾病的机制。随着MS患者的EA和心理僵化程度增加，观察到他们的状态焦虑（β = 0.79；< 0.001）、特质焦虑（β = 0.82；< 0.001）和抑郁（β = 0.62；< 0.001）水平更高。具有高自我同情/自我接受度的参与者往往消极思维较少，对疾病的应对能力更好，这反过来可能会影响心理僵化或不灵活的模式。善良和谦逊等维度可能是应对疾病的积极因素，而自我评判和孤立则是与回避行为相关的消极因素，往往会阻碍对疾病的有效应对。
