Stressful Life Events Precede Exacerbations of Multiple Sclerosis
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19304709 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kurt D Ackerman (University of Pittsburgh), Rock Heyman (University of Pittsburgh), Bruce S Rabin (University of Pittsburgh), Barbara P Anderson (University of Pittsburgh), Patricia R Houck (University of Pittsburgh), Ellen Frank (0000-0003-3298-7893, University of Pittsburgh), Andy Baum (0000-0002-9755-6691, University of Pittsburgh), Andrew Baum |
| Year | 2002 |
| Volume | 64 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 916-920 |
| Publication date | 2002-11-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Psychosomatic Medicine (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0033-3174 • E-ISSN: 1534-7796 |
| Publisher | Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1097/00006842-200211000-00009 |
| OpenAlex | W4250675316 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 13 |
Objective We longitudinally monitored life events and health changes in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) to determine whether stressful events may trigger exacerbation of MS. Methods Twenty-three women with MS were followed for 1 year. Each subject completed the Psychiatric Epidemiologic Research Interview on a weekly basis. Further information on potentially stressful events was acquired using the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule. Neurologic symptoms were also monitored on a weekly basis throughout the year. Potential MS exacerbations were confirmed by a neurologist who was blind to the presence and timing of stressors. Results Eighty-five percent of MS exacerbations were associated with stressful life events in the preceding 6 weeks. Stressful life events occurred an average of 14 days before MS exacerbations, compared with 33 days before a randomly selected control date (p < .0001). Survival analysis confirmed that an increase in frequency of life events was associated with greater likelihood of MS exacerbations (hazard ratio = 13.18, p < .05). Conclusions These results are consistent with the hypothesis that stress is a potential trigger of disease activity in patients with relapsing-remitting MS
Confidence interval · Disease · Exacerbation · Hazard ratio · Multiple sclerosis · Psychiatry · Stressor · Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research · Internal Medicine · Medicine · Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies · Polyomavirus and related diseases
A comparative study of uncertainty and coping strategies of patients with multiple sclerosis for members and nonmembers in peer groups
Effects of Death Anxiety on Perceived Stress in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis and the Role of Self-Transcendence
Managing psychological stress in the multiple sclerosis medical visit
| Citations per year | 0.3 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2016 - 2019 (4) |
| Highly cited | No |