Quality of Life Model in Multiple Sclerosis: Personality, Mood Disturbance, Catastrophizing and Disease Severity

Objective: The aim of current study was to investigate the interaction between factors such as personality, catastrophizing, mood disturbance and disease severity, which may affect the quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis. The result of this study can identify the factors that have an impact on quality of life among these patients and hopefully it may lead to improve the services provided for these patients. Design: One hundred and thirteen participants with multiple sclerosis completed the following questionnaires: Type D Personality (DS-14), Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HADS), Illness Perception (Brief-IPQ) and Quality of Life (SF-36). The Expanded Disability Statue Scale (EDSS) assessed disease severity. Main Outcome Measures: Data was analyzed in structural equation modeling. Results: Type D personality was associated with quality of life and the relationship was mediated by disease severity, catastrophizing and mood status. Conclusion: Results showed a significant relationship between Type D personality and QOL. However, when the variables were added to the model, the relationship ceased to exist. These results suggest that personality traits are indirectly associated with QOL, mediated by another variable.