Vm. Jean et al., Psychological and neuropsychological predictors of coping patterns by patients with multiple sclerosis, J CLIN PSYC, 55(1), 1999, pp. 21-26
To determine the relative contribution of psychological and neuropsychologi
cal (NP) variables to the prediction of patterns of coping with disease-rel
ated stressors and satisfaction with their coping efforts. 56 patients with
multiple sclerosis; (MS)were administered the Ways of Coping Checklist, th
e Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. and a battery of NP tests chosen for their
sensitivity to MS. Higher levels of psychological distress were associated
with greater use of emotion-focused coping strategies and reduced perceived
effectiveness of the coping strategies employed. Psychological distress wa
s not related to the use of problem-focused strategies and NP variables did
not predict coping style or effectiveness. MS patients who display heighte
ned psychological distress may be good candidates for psychotherapeutic int
erventions aimed at improving perceived coping effectiveness. (C) 1999 John
Wiley & Sons. Inc.