EVALUATION OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STATUS OF VENTILATORY-SUPPORTED PATIENTS WITH ALS MND/

Many medical professionals feel that a choice of long-term ventilatory support leads to a life of hopeless desperation. We compared the soci odemographic, physical and psychological status of 18 amyotrophic late ral sclerosis/motor neurone disease (ALS/MND) patients on ventilatory support for 1 to 120 months with that of 126 nonventilatory-supported ALS/MND patients. Patients filled out a comprehensive data form and co mpleted ten psychological tests. A composite psychological status scor e was computed, representing a continuum from psychological distress t o psychological well-being. Mann-Whitney and chi(2) tests were used to compare the two groups. There were no significant differences in soci odemographic makeup, depression, hopelessness, overall quality of life or psychological well-being. However, ventilatory-supported patients had a more internal health locus of control. Many patients on ventilat ory support were able to live high quality lives. When ventilatory sup port is an option, we suggest that medical professionals be supportive of the patient's choices and recognise that a decision for ventilator y support is probably the best predictor of an acceptable quality of l ife on a ventilator.