Positive experiences reduce depression symptoms in MS patients
April 9th, 2008 - 1:22 pm ICT by adminWashington, Apr 9 (ANI): A new study has revealed that positive experiences can significantly reduce emotional and psychological stress or depression among people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
The study conducted by Alexa Stuifbergen, professor of nursing and associate dean of research at The University of Texas at Austin, and Lorraine Phillips, assistant professor in the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing has found that increasing positive experiences can decrease depression symptoms in MS patients.
Positive experiences significantly affected the participants perceptions of the quality of their lives and symptoms of depression, even when taking into account age, education and disease-related factors, such as mobility, vision and cognition, said Phillips.
People with MS typically rate the quality of their lives lower than that of the general population, so it is important for people with MS and clinicians involved in their care to understand what factors may improve the quality of their lives.
The participants were asked to record the frequency of positive experiences in their lives, such as I said thank you and meant it, I said something pleasant to someone who didnt expect it, and I exercised and felt good about doing it, she added.
Phillips found that participants who reported a higher number of positive experiences had lowered depression symptoms.
By incorporating positive experiences or behaviours into their lives, people with MS may be able to limit the additional risks and costs of medical treatments for depression, she said.
Health care providers should encourage people with MS to participate in positive activities every day.
Previous research found that people with MS benefit more from frequent smaller activities like smelling fresh flowers, talking with neighbours or writing letters, than they do from larger activities like taking a week-long vacation or buying an expensive outfit that they can only do once in a while, she added.
The study, The Influence of Positive Experiences on Depression and Quality of Life in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis, was published in the March 2008 issue of The Journal of Holistic Nursing. (ANI)
- Creative storytelling improves lives of people with dementia: Study - Feb 26, 2011
- Vitamin D speeds up recovery in multiple sclerosis - May 23, 2011
- Brain atrophy causes depression in multiple sclerosis patients - Jul 02, 2010
- Mindfulness meditation may alleviate fatigue, depression in MS patients - Sep 28, 2010
- Sun exposure, vitamin D may lower multiple sclerosis risk - Feb 08, 2011
- Mental activity 'can protect memory of patients with multiple sclerosis' - Jun 15, 2010
- Natalizumab drug improves quality of life of MS patients - Sep 13, 2009
- Potential therapeutic target for multiple sclerosis identified - Jan 12, 2011
- How depression and anxiety influence physical symptoms - Mar 05, 2011
- Affordable Indian drugs could cut sclerosis treatment cost - Nov 13, 2011
- Stem cells may help treat aggressive multiple sclerosis - Mar 22, 2011
- Women at higher genetic risk for multiple sclerosis: Study - Jan 06, 2011
- Smoking may up multiple sclerosis risk in some - Apr 08, 2010
- Endurance tests can detect nerve disease early - Jan 27, 2012
- Anti-hypertensive drug improves multiple sclerosis-related brain inflammation - Jul 29, 2010
Tags: age education, associate dean, behaviours, depression symptoms, fresh flowers, health care providers, long vacation, lorraine phillips, medical treatments, ms patients, neighbours, previous research, psychological stress, school of nursing, sclerosis ms, sinclair school, symptoms of depression, treatments for depression, university of texas at austin, writing letters