Effect of disease duration on personality type in multiple sclerosis patients and healthy individual

Authors
Sahar Vesal 1
Leila Dehghani 2
Masoud Etemadifar 3
Elahe Poorazizi 4
Sima Akhavan 1
Samaneh Mazrouei 1
Nasim Mehdizadeh 1
Zahra Saraf 1
1 Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan; Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
3 Isfahan Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Research Center, Isfahan Eye Research Center, Ophthalmology Ward, Feiz Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
4 Department of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Background: Multiple sclerosis may have profound emotional consequences. The relation between psychological and physical factors could lead patients toward unforeseen disease. This study focuses on multiple sclerosis (MS) disease duration on personality type A and B in relation to individuals' behaviors.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Isfahan Alzahra hospital in 2013. Three hundred MS patients and 100 healthy individuals were determined. The distributed questionnaires related to MS patients and considering the descriptive statistics such as demographic variables. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 18) based on Chi-square test and independent T-test.




Results: Disease duration varied between 1 to 38 years: 30% (1-4 years), 38% (5-10 years), 20% (10-20 years), and 12% (more than 20 years). Significant relationship was observed between disease duration and tendency to type A (higher stress). This relation was positive and significant in Relapsing Remitting MS patients; but negative correlation was seen in Secondary Progressive MS patients. These patients tended to type B (lower stress) when disease duration increased.
Conclusions: Individuals with disease duration of one year and less than one year tend to type A personality, while patients with increment of disease duration have tendency to type B.

Keywords

1.
Ebers GC. The natural history of MS. In: Paty DW, Ebers GC, editors. Multiple Sclerosis. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis; 1998. p. 427-519.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Etemadifar M, Abtahi SH. Multiple sclerosis in Isfahan, Iran: Past, present and future. Int J Prev Med 2012;3:301-2.  Back to cited text no. 2
[PUBMED]  Medknow Journal  
3.
Tennant A. Epidemiology of neurologically disabling disorders. Handb Clin Neurol 2013;110:77-92.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Etemadifar M, Maghzi AH. Sharp increase in the incidence and prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Isfahan, Iran. Mult Scler 2011;17:1022-7.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Harel Y, Barak Y, Achiron A. Dysregulation of affect in multiple sclerosis: New phenomenological approach. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2007;61:94-8.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Friedman M, Rosenman RH. Type A Behavior and Your Heart. New York, NY: Alfred AKnopf; 1974. p. 78-85.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Friedman M, Ulmer D. Treating type A Behavior-And Your Heart. New York: Knopf; 1984. p. 102-116.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Anderson NB, Williams RB Jr, Lane JD, Haney T, Simpson S, Houseworth SJ. Type A behavior, family history of hypertension, and cardiovascular responsivity among black women. Health Psychol 1986;5:393-406.  Back to cited text no. 8
[PUBMED]    
9.
Rosenman RH, Friedman M. Neurogenic factors in pathogenesis of coronary heart disease. Med Clin North Am 1974;58:269-79.  Back to cited text no. 9
[PUBMED]    
10.
Ikeda A, Iso H, Kawachi I, Inoue M, Tsugane S; JPHC Study Group. Type A behavior and risk of coronary heart disease: The JPHC Study. Int J Epidemiol 2008;37:1395-405.  Back to cited text no. 10
[PUBMED]    
11.
Shaw WS, Dimsdale JE, Patterson TL. Stress and life events measures. In: Rush AJ, editor. Handbook of Psychiatric Measures. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. p. 221-39.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
Byrne DG. Type A behavior, anxiety and neuroticism: Reconceptualizing the pathophysiological paths and boundaries of coronary-prone behaviour. Stress Med 1996;12:227-38.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13.
Shaygannejad V, Sadr-Ameli M. Successful Life with Multiple Sclerosis. Iran: Vajiran, Mashhad; 2010. p. 68-94.  Back to cited text no. 13
    
14.
Korostil M, Feinstein A. Anxiety disorders and their clinical correlates in multiple sclerosis patients. J Mult Scler 2007;13:67-72.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15.
Khorvash F, Askari G, Vesal S, Mehrbod N, Ghasemi H, Fatehizade M, et al. Investigating the anxiety level in iranian medical residents in 2010-2011. Int J Prev Med 2013;4(Suppl 2):S318-22.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16.
Smith TW, MacKenzie J. Personality and risk of physical illness. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2006;2:435-67.  Back to cited text no. 16
    
17.
Ganji H. Psychological Tests. Iran: Tehran, S Alavan Publications; 2007. p. 68-73.  Back to cited text no. 17
    
18.
Goodin DS, Ebers GC, Johnson KP, Rodriguez M, Sibley WA, Wolinsky JS. The relationship of MS to physical trauma and psychological stress: Report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology 1999;52:1737-45.  Back to cited text no. 18
    
19.
Ackerman KD, Stover A, Heyman R, Anderson BP, Houck PR, Frank E, et al. 2002 Robert Ader New Investigator award. Relationship of cardiovascular reactivity, stressful life events, and multiple sclerosis disease activity. Brain Behav Immun 2003;17:141-51.  Back to cited text no. 19
    
20.
Torrente F, Pose M, Gleichgerrcht E, Torralva T, López P, Cetkovich-Bakmas M, et al. Personality changes in dementia: Are they disease specific and universal? Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2014;28:261-8.  Back to cited text no. 20
    
21.
Bruce JM, Arnett P. Clinical correlates of generalized worry in multiple sclerosis. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol 2009;31:698-705.  Back to cited text no. 21
    
22.
Thomas PW 1, Thomas S, Hillier C, Galvin K, Baker R. Psychological interventions for multiple sclerosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;25:CD004431.  Back to cited text no. 22
    
23.
Mullins LL, Cote MP, Fuemmeler BF, Jean VM, Beatty WW, Paul RH. Illness intrusiveness, uncertainty, and distress in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Rehabil Psychol 2001;46:139-53.  Back to cited text no. 23
Advanced Biomedical Research
Volume 2016, March
March 2016
Pages 1-4