Psychotherapy with multiple-sclerosis patients

We compared 46 multiple-sclerosis cases, who had chosen to undergo a one-ye ar group psychotherapy, with a control group of 24 ms-cases without psychot herapeutic treatment. Measuring instruments were a personality-test (Giesse n test), an achievement capacities questionnaire, an intensive interview as well as the content analysis scales of verbal behaviour by Gottschalk and Gleser. The inquiry took place at four points of measurement and had 2 year follow-up, using the questionnaire on assess changes in experience and beh aviour (QCEB) by Zielke and Kopf-Mehnert, a checklist of symptoms and a row of subjects to be answered freely. In some areas of our research effects o f therapy appeared. The changes within the area of relationships, aggressiv e loosening and bigger flexibility also in the physical area, are primarily , what distinguishes the course of the therapy-group to the one of the cont rol-group. Several digressions were also seen with some physical symptoms i n the therapy-group. We consider this as the common effect of the therapy o f psychosomatic disorders and interpret it as resistance against the releas ing of anxiety cathected motives, that are participating with the illness. The follow-up showed greater optimism and definite physical improvements in the therapy-group. Some positive changes appeared in both the therapy-grou p and the control-group, as e. g. an improvement of the cognitive impairmen t. We assume, that the influence of our research could not be limited to th e therapy-group, because some members of both groups were in contact and th e control group was also informed about the research-project and its underl ying hypothesis. Although the physical performance capacity correlates with some variables of personality and relationships, it does not with life sat isfaction. This opens additional opportunities for psychotherapeutic effort s. One problem was, that the control group consisted of people, who did not want to participate with the therapy. Even though both groups were equal a ccording to essential social-demographic characteristics and illness relate d variables, it appeared later, that they differed in psychological variabl es. The therapy group was especially characterised by more anxious concerns .