Psychotherapeutic methods in outpatient rehabilitation and hospital patients with multiple sclerosis

Gruppenpsychotherapeutische Behandlungsansätze in der ambulanten und stationären Rehabilitation von Patienten mit Multipler Sklerose

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong neurological disorder that affects persons during their peak work and reproductive years. As in many other chronic diseases, individuals require ongoing care coordination, including medication, disease management and education as well as coping-strategies for addressing acute exacerbations. Multiple issues that emerge during the course of MS and cross specialty lines demand active participation by the person and his or her family or other caregivers. There is a substantial need for practicing encourage healthy activity, ongoing disease management, improved perception of control and symptom relief. Research in the area of coping strategies for managing MS mainly focuses on cognitive coping styles. Many studies have found that the way patients’ cope with MS may help to explain differences in their ultimate adjustment to the disease. Studies also note the importance of self-management support and the lack of effectiveness of education without a concurrent emphasis on building confidence and skills. Strategies to engage, educate, and empower individuals with chronic neurological disease that are embedded in psychotherapy groups – as they are deskript in this artical – promise to improve MScare. Self-management programs may foster awareness and skills to help prevent negative outcomes, such as falls, and encourage positive health behavior, such as exercise and could have an positiv outcome on health related quality of life and depression. These health-promoting behaviors may ultimately increase the effectiveness and value per dollar of medical care – therefore economic outcomes should be a central part of further study.