Strategies of Coping with Stress and the Quality of Life in Relation to the Adherence to Therapeutic Recommendations in MS — Affected Patients

Introduction. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, which affects young adults between 20–40 years old. The incidence of MS is increasing worldwide. The symptoms vary and depend on which part of the nervous system is affected. Stress is very common in patients with MS. It can be a risk factor related with relapses of the disease. Coping is defined as the behavioural and cognitive efforts used in an attempt to deal with stressful events. In a long-term treatment, disease modifying therapies are used to reduce the risk of the progression and severity of MS, and reduce the risk of disability. The adherence to therapy has a crucial role in the effectiveness of drugs.Aim. The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between coping strategies and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients depending on the degree of adherence.Material and Methods. The study was conducted in 226 patients suffering from MS.Results. It was demonstrated that 23.5% of respondents do not follow recommended treatments. Both adherent and non-adherent patients gave the highest grade to their quality of life in its social and psychological aspects. The most often used strategies of coping with stress both in adherent and non-adherent patients were as follows: active coping, planning, positive reframing, acceptance, seeking emotional support and seeking instrumental support. On the other hand, substance use was the least frequently used strategy, irrespective of the adherence level.Conclusions. The use of the coping-with-stress strategy, associated with an active problem solving and seeking support, plays a positive role in the quality of life of MS patients adhering to therapeutic recommendations. The use of avoidance strategies, i.e. the not taking of actions as well as self-blaming, reduces the quality of life in MS patients, both adherers and non-adherers to recommendations. (JNNN 2021;10(3):112–119)