Multiple Sclerosis: Relationships between Locus of Control, Coping Strategies and Quality of Life

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system. It usually presents with a variety of physical, cognitive, and psychological signs and symptoms. The normal course of illness, unpredictable, leads patients to an inevitable reactive condition that affects their family and their own life. It is believed that individual persuasions about the ability to manage the events of life has direct consequences on the control of life itself, above all on treatment and medical care compliance. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between locus of control and the impact of psychological features in the choice of coping strategies in patients affected by MS and their influence on Quality of Life (QoL). For this reason, we enrolled 87 patients (66,7% women, 33.3% men; mean age 42.1) affected by relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis according to Mc Donald’s criteria and with disability corresponding to a mean score of 2.2 on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Participants were followed periodically at our Multiple Sclerosis Centre. QoL was assessed using the SF- 36 questionnaire. Clinical disease progression was evaluated using EDSS; locus of control was used as a psychological variable. Numerical data were expressed as mean and standard deviations, categorical variables as number and percentage. The results demonstrated that patients with an external locus of control had lesser perception of physical pain (p=0.0003), vitality (p=0.019), social activity (p=0.0022), physical condition indicator (p=0.017) and disease status indicator (p=0.019). On the other hand, internal locus decreased the “mental health” perception (p=0.006) and the disease status index (p=0.018). The clinical relevance of the relationship between QoL and locus of control is very important because it may provide information about the general health status of patients and can also help physicians to choose the best treatment option, mostly considering the significant role of therapy adherence.