Persons with MS, Caregivers and Pity

Background: Multiple Sclerosis, because its unpredictable character and the disability it can cause, may create negative feelings in persons with MS (PwMS) and in their caregivers and injure the interpersonal relations. Objectives: To understand how the pity affects the overcoming of the frustration in PwMS, as well as, how the caregivers' negative feelings influence in the appearance of pity in caregivers. Methods: MS Cuba carried out a survey with 70 persons with MS (PwMS) and their caregivers. A face-to-face or telephone open interview was realized. All the PwMS included in this work have Pyramidal Functions equally or higher than 5 measured by the Kurztke FSS, were diagnosed 8 or more years ago and all after the age of 20. Results: The main negative feelings found in caregivers were anxiety, depression, anguish, uncertainty, pity, unhappiness, obligation and frustration. Due to MS, all the PwMS suffer frustrations. Only 22 PwMS overcame frustration and this fact does not depend on sex, age, educational level, profession, or the dates of the beginning of the symptoms or of diagnosis. All these PwMS had caregivers who do not feel pity and near the 80% of them has a high educational level. Trying to investigate if the pity in caregivers have correlation with other negative feelings, was found there is with unhappiness (Pearson correlation equal 0.35 and P-Value = 0,003, what is significant). Conclusions: The pity in caregivers is a very harmful feeling and difficult the frustration overcoming in PwMS. It is easier in PwMS with a high educational level. Unhappiness has a significant correlation with the appearance of pity.