Elizabeth H Morrison1, Dara Sorkin2, Laura Mosqueda3, Napatkamon Ayutyanont4. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, USA (EHM). 2. Departments of Medicine, Public Health, and Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA (DS). 3. Department of Family Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA (LM). 4. Graduate Medical Education-Far West Division, Hospital Corporation of America, Las Vegas, NV, USA (NA).
Abstract
Background: Approximately 30% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) require caregiving, with unknown prevalence of abuse and neglect. To explore these issues, we created the Scale to Report Emotional Stress Signs-Multiple Sclerosis (STRESS-MS). The objective was to develop, validate, and field-test a self-report questionnaire for screening people with MS for mistreatment. Methods: We developed the STRESS-MS questionnaire and administered it to 102 adults with advanced MS-related disability and 97 primary informal caregivers, correlating responses with direct observation of mistreatment, conducting an item analysis, and evaluating validity using a Longitudinal, Expert, All Data (LEAD) panel. Results: Most STRESS-MS subscales correlated highly with criterion-standard LEAD panel evaluations of mistreatment, with strong concurrent and discriminant validity. Nearly 53% of participants with MS reported experiencing psychological abuse; 9.8%, financial exploitation; 6.9%, physical abuse; 4.9%, neglect; and 3.9%, sexual abuse. Protective factors for people with MS included social support and older age; risk factors included depression and aggressiveness. The greatest risk factor was an informal caregiver who spent 20 or more hours per week caring for the person with MS. Conclusions: The STRESS-MS questionnaire is reasonably reliable and valid for detecting caregiver mistreatment in adults with MS. Although most informal caregivers are not abusive, this study highlights an underrecognized need to detect and prevent abuse and neglect of people with MS.
Background: Approximately 30% of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) require caregiving, with unknown prevalence of abuse and neglect. To explore these issues, we created the Scale to Report Emotional Stress Signs-Multiple Sclerosis (STRESS-MS). The objective was to develop, validate, and field-test a self-report questionnaire for screening people with MS for mistreatment. Methods: We developed the STRESS-MS questionnaire and administered it to 102 adults with advanced MS-related disability and 97 primary informal caregivers, correlating responses with direct observation of mistreatment, conducting an item analysis, and evaluating validity using a Longitudinal, Expert, All Data (LEAD) panel. Results: Most STRESS-MS subscales correlated highly with criterion-standard LEAD panel evaluations of mistreatment, with strong concurrent and discriminant validity. Nearly 53% of participants with MS reported experiencing psychological abuse; 9.8%, financial exploitation; 6.9%, physical abuse; 4.9%, neglect; and 3.9%, sexual abuse. Protective factors for people with MS included social support and older age; risk factors included depression and aggressiveness. The greatest risk factor was an informal caregiver who spent 20 or more hours per week caring for the person with MS. Conclusions: The STRESS-MS questionnaire is reasonably reliable and valid for detecting caregiver mistreatment in adults with MS. Although most informal caregivers are not abusive, this study highlights an underrecognized need to detect and prevent abuse and neglect of people with MS.
Authors: A S Drake; B Weinstock-Guttman; S A Morrow; D Hojnacki; F E Munschauer; R H B Benedict Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2009-12-22 Impact factor: 6.312
Authors: Ruth Ann Marrie; Stephen Reingold; Jeffrey Cohen; Olaf Stuve; Maria Trojano; Per Soelberg Sorensen; Gary Cutter; Nadia Reider Journal: Mult Scler Date: 2015-01-12 Impact factor: 6.312