Incertidumbre, Estrés, Ansiedad, Depresión e Información en Personas con Esclerosis Múltiple

Theoretical Framework. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with increased depression and anxiety, which in turn are related to stress and uncertainty. The amount and quality of information, relevant due to their association with uncertainty in different populations, have not been investigated in people with MS. Method. Through MS associations, a questionnaire was distributed that collected demographic data, information (attendance at informational talks, internet searches, etc.), stress, uncertainty, anxiety, and depression. A total of 119 people with MS participated, mostly Spanish women belonging to an association with an average age of 46 years and Relapsing-Remitting MS. Results. 57% and 39% of the sample might have anxiety and depression problems, respectively. There were differences in anxiety and stress according to the type of MS. Uncertainty showed correlations of .21-.26 with stress, anxiety, and depression. The sample was generally satisfied with the information they had, especially with that provided by healthcare professionals, and the latter was the only information source that showed a significant inverse correlation with uncertainty (r = -.22). Depression was correlated with the amount of information searched on the internet (r = .17). There were no differences in uncertainty, stress, anxiety, or depression according to membership in associations or attendance at informational talks. Conclusions. Providing people with MS with reliable, clear, and tailored information is crucial to fostering their understanding of the disease and their psychological well-being, with healthcare professionals playing a key role in this.