The Effectiveness of Group Hope Therapy Training on the Quality of Life and Meaning of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Their Family Caregivers

Abstract

Objective: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, progressive neurological disease that, due to its special nature, has various physical and mental influences on the patients and their family's lives, decreasing the quality of life and threatening the meaning of life. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the group hope therapy training on the quality and the meaning of life in patients with multiple sclerosis and their family caregivers.
 Method: This quasi-experimental study was performed using pretest-posttest and control group. Thirty patients with multiple sclerosis along with 30 family caregivers who got low to medium scores on the Meaning in Life questionnaire by Steger (MLQ), Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29), and the Iranian Quality of Life questionnaire (IRQOL) for the caregivers were selected purposively. Then, the patients were randomly divided into two groups of 15 individuals in experimental and 15 individuals in control groups. The caregivers were grouped in the same manner. The protocol of group hope therapy training was carried out through eight two-hour sessions in two weeks separately on two experimental groups (the patients and the caregivers), and finally the posttest was given to four experimental and control groups.
 Results: The results of the data showed that the meaning of life in both the patient and the caregiver experimental groups increased significantly (P < 0.001), but there was no significant change in the patient and the caregiver control groups.
 Conclusion: Group hope therapy training is an effective intervention for improving the meaning of life and the quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis. Also, any psychological intervention that aims to improve the quality of life in patients in an advanced stage of the disease requires attention to both the physical and the mental issues at the same time. Although group hope therapy training has improved the meaning of life in such patients, it did not have a significant impact on the quality of life. Therefore, paying attention to the stages of multiple sclerosis and the physical condition of the patients during the therapeutic intervention and adopting necessary complementary interventions seems to be essential.

Retracted Article: The Importance of Religion, Spirituality, and Spiritual Care in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

“…38 Another study showed that the meaning of life in the patients with MS and the caregivers increased significantly after group hope therapy training. 39…”

“…38 Another study showed that the meaning of life in the patients with MS and the caregivers increased significantly after group hope therapy training. 39 In our clinic practice, we have seen the positive effects of religion and spirituality on the psychosocial, mental, and spiritual health of patients with many neurological patients including MS patients. Second, many patients and caregivers have found spiritual peace, consolation, and relief when they read the book entitled "Message for the Sick" 40 written by Bediüzzaman Said Nursi (1877Nursi ( -1960.…”

The Relationship Between Social Support and Family Functioning Among Married Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Iran with the Mediating Role of Spiritual Experiences and Moral Foundations

“…40 Studies show that individuals with strong spiritual beliefs, who are in connection with stable spiritual sources can better endure and cope with marital problems. 41 , 42 They also generally show less friction in their family relationships and in dealing with everyday problems. On the contrary, grown-up children of families with low sense of spirituality were reported to exhibit more instances of shirking from responsibility and keeping low profile during crises when family members need support.…”

Significance of Post-Traumatic Growth and Mental Health for Coping in Multiple Sclerosis Caregivers

“…This strategy implies a positive cognitive reconstruction of a challenging situation. Interventions focused on re-evaluating goals and values have been demonstrated to support meaningfulness and well-being in caregivers [41]. In the same direction, religious coping has been associated with PTG by re-evaluating despairing situations into challenging assignments.…”