Complementary/alternative medicine and treatment non-adherence in multiple sclerosis: psychological factors and consequences for patients

Authors

  • W. Houllé
  • C. Tarquinio
  • M. Costantini-Tramoni

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis is the first cause of non-traumatic disability by young people in developed countries. There is currently no curative treatment for this disease. This research is focused on the non-adherence to treatment, the use of alternative/complementary medicine, and self-medication by the patients. Methods: population: 25 patients; data collection: 2 semi-directive interviews per patient; data analysis: IPA and clinical analysis (qualitative approach). Findings: themes developed: real-life experience and content of the diagnosis disclosure and the treatments’ presentation; beliefs, representations and life-experience link to this disease and treatments; patient’s expectations and complexity of the doctor-patient relationship; consequences of the rupture of the trust relationship between patients and neurologists; psychological factors link to the non-adherence; different types of alternative/complementary medicines used by multiple sclerosis’ patients, self-medication and factors linked to these complex health behaviours;… Discussion: Patients’ distrust toward the treatments’ effectiveness, beliefs and angers linked to the disease and treatments, and feeling of powerlessness due to the progressively crippling character of MS explain the high presence of these health behaviours (risks for health) in order not to suffer passively the disease.

Published

2015-12-31

Issue

Section

Poster presentations