Reducing Stigma, Enhancing Psychological Well-Being and Identity in Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Review of Current Practices and Future Directions

Healthcare, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(11), P. 1291 - 1291

Published: May 29, 2025

Background: Stigma is a pervasive, though understudied, psychosocial factor affecting people with multiple sclerosis. This review synthesizes the literature on impact of perceived, enacted, and internalized stigma psychological health illness identity in PwMS. Methods: A comprehensive narrative approach was adopted, integrating findings from peer-reviewed quantitative qualitative studies. Databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus were searched using combinations terms such as “multiple sclerosis”, “stigma”, “internalized stigma”, “mental health”, “illness identity”. Studies included if they reported stigma-related outcomes PwMS, discussed or variables, examined interventions aimed at reducing enhancing adaptive identity. The analysis focused thematic synthesis, identifying recurrent findings, mediating mechanisms, clinical implications. Results: MS consistently linked to higher depression, anxiety, lower quality life. Internalized disrupts identity, often fostering engulfment rejection self. Psychological mediators—such cognitive fusion, diminished self-compassion, weakened sense coherence—amplify these outcomes. Particularly vulnerable are individuals progressive disease, severe disability, minority status, limited social support. recursive loop emerges: triggers distress, which increases awareness withdrawal. In addition traditional interventions, several emerging approaches have shown promise integration. Conclusions: central emotional suffering fragmentation Integrative, narrative-informed, culturally sensitive essential reduce foster resilience. Future research should prioritize longitudinal, mixed-method develop effective, scalable solutions.

Language: Английский

Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazilian Post-Peak Period: Differences Between Individuals with and Without Pre-Existing Psychiatric Conditions

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 22(1), P. 27 - 27

Published: Dec. 29, 2024

(1) Background: Validated instruments to measure mental health variables related sanitary crises can provide data for prevention or intervention plans. The objectives of this study were: evidence the psychometric factorial internal structure Battery Assessing Mental Health–Pandemic Version (BASM-P) in sample; (2) investigate psychosocial impact COVID-19 pandemic Brazilian post-peak period among individuals with and without pre-existing psychiatric conditions using BASM-P; (3) analyze relationships between measured by BASM-P both groups. Methods: This is an internet-based quantitative, cross-sectional a non-probabilistic convenience sample. participants (n = 209) were divided into non-psychiatric group 168) 41). sociodemographic questionnaire. Data collected throughout second semester 2022 analyzed JASP software. Results: demonstrated robust structure. Significant differences observed two groups across all variables. In group, obsessive thoughts presented strong connections fear, distress, grief from job loss. (4) Conclusions: highlights central role shaping period.

Language: Английский