A study of psychological well-being in people with multiple sclerosis and their primary caregivers

Paediatric Multiple Sclerosis: A Scoping Review of Patients' and Parents' Perspectives

Dealing with paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis is particularly challenging for the young patients and their families, due to its unpredictable symptoms and uncertain outcome. This review aimed at synthesising the qualitative evidence regarding the perspectives about paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis, as expressed by the patients and/or their parents. A literature search was conducted on PubMed and CINAHL. The advanced multi-field search allowed to perform an abstract/title search in both databases, using keywords, combined through Boolean operators. Additional search strategies were adopted: searching the reference list of the selected papers; searching for key authors in the field. All the relevant papers were thoroughly revised using The Joanna Briggs Institute's data extraction form for qualitative evidence as a guidance. Eight papers were selected. The analysis of these papers allowed to identify some common issues pertaining paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis: (1) onset of symptoms, (2) diagnostic process, (3) reaction to the diagnosis, (4) management and acceptance of multiple sclerosis. The burden of multiple sclerosis was confirmed. However, the young patients and their parents can adjust to the disease. Both the community and the health care professionals must strive to prevent the families dealing with multiple sclerosis from experiencing solitude and rejection.

The well-being and burden of caregiving for patients with Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVES

Well-being and positive psychological functioning may protect caregivers from experiencing burden. Despite this, research has scarcely explored these variables among caregivers of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This research endeavoured (1) to measure differences in distress and well-being between caregivers of PD patients and caregivers assisting individuals suffering from non-neurodegenerative age-related health problems (controls); and (2) to evaluate the predictors of well-being, distress and caregiver burden in the total sample of caregivers.

METHODS

The study has a cross-sectional design. 100 caregivers were recruited from centres for ageing individuals. 50 caregivers assisted patients with PD, while the other 50 were considered as controls. Participants completed self-report questionnaires concerning psychological well-being, life satisfaction, post-traumatic growth, distress and symptomatology. Multiple regression analysis was performed on the dataset of the total sample (N = 100), exploring the possible predictors and correlates of caregiver burden.

RESULTS

Caregivers who assisted patients with PD significantly experienced more depression, more distress and less well-being when compared to controls. The main significant correlates of caregiver burden were older age, less psychological well-being and more depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Parkinson's disease caregivers reported more impairment in psychological well-being and higher rates of distress. In the total sample of caregivers (of patients with PD and of healthy individuals), depression and specific areas of well-being (environmental mastery, personal growth) correlated to the burden of caregiving. Psychosocial interventions focused on these dimensions may help caregivers to better cope with the possible burden of the assistance.