Teaching coping skills enhances quality of life more than peer support: Results of a randomized trial with multiple sclerosis patients

This 2-year randomized trial of multiple sclerosis patients compared a copi ng skills group (n = 64) with peer telephone support (n = 68). Growth curve analyses that adjusted for neurological deterioration and gender revealed that the coping skills intervention yielded gains in psychosocial role perf ormance, coping behavior, and numerous aspects of well-being. In contrast, the peer support intervention increased external health locus of control bu t did not influence psychosocial role performance or well-being. Subgroup a nalyses revealed that patients with affective problems were more Likely to benefit from the peer support intervention than the coping skills group in terms of reported depression, anxiety, use of avoidant coping, and some asp ects of well-being. The coping group is discussed as a vehicle for facilita ting response shift, helping patients to change their internal referents, t heir conceptualization of quality of life, and their priorities.