‘I want to be with you, but I have MS’: Challenges of interpersonal relationships from the MS patients’ point of view
Maryam Sharifi
PhD student
Department of Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Hamid Taher Neshat Doost
Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Correspondence
Hamid Taher Neshat Doost, Depatment of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorVahid Shayegannejad
Professor of Neurology
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Search for more papers by this authorMaryam Sharifi
PhD student
Department of Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Hamid Taher Neshat Doost
Professor of Psychology
Department of Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Correspondence
Hamid Taher Neshat Doost, Depatment of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorVahid Shayegannejad
Professor of Neurology
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Interpersonal relationships play an important role in adjustment to disease, coping and improving life quality after onset of Multiple sclerosis (MS). However, considering its specific nature, MS has a considerable effect on interpersonal relationships. Thus, this study was conducted to identify and describe effects of disease on interpersonal relationships through investigating lived experiences of patients. In this research, a total of 24 MS patients were selected through purposive sampling from individuals referred to the MS Clinic of Kashani Hospital in Isfahan, Iran, during 2016–2017, and then in-depth interviews were done with participants. After analysing interviews by Giorgi Descriptive Phenomenological Psychological Method, five main themes were obtained including ‘Who is guilty?’, ‘The need for informed care’, ‘living with a secret’, ‘Change in relationships’ and ‘The Reality slap’. Content of experience for some of these themes was more influenced by nature of the disease, whereas some other themes were influenced more by patient's cultural context.
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