The relationship of personal characteristics of patients with Multiple Sclerosis and deficities in acceptance of the disease and emotion regulation

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune and inflammatory chronic disease characterized by destroying the myelin sheath in the central nervous system. Since it is a disease involving the central nervous system, its effects can be seen in many motor, cognitive, sensory, and emotional areas. The weakening of nerve conduction in patients with MS causes cognitive problems, as well as the long-lasting symptoms of the disease, affecting the personality structure and emotion regulation mechanisms of the individual, or vice versa. The condition of accepting the disease, which is considered necessary to adapt to the treatment and quality of life reduced by MS, maybe earlier, easier, or later and more complicated, depending on both personality traits and emotion regulation processes. Rejection of the disease and lack of patience are generally seen as natural emotional processes brought about by the disease. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the personality traits of MS patients, difficulty in emotion regulation, and difficulties in accepting the disease. The sample of the study consisted of 476 participants aged 18-60 with no chronic disease other than MS and were diagnosed with MS. Personal Information Form, Basic Personality Traits Scale, Emotion Regulation Difficulty Scale, and Acceptance of Illness Scale were used as data collection tools. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the demographic variables used in the study and the scales used, and positive and negative relationships were found both in their sub-dimensions and with other scales. Age, gender, and absence of mental illness predicted some or sub-dimensions of the scales used. Emotional inconsistency and difficulty in accepting emotions (not accepting) predict the disease negatively. All the data obtained from the analyzes were discussed with the support of other studies. Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, Basic personality traits, Acceptance of illness, Emotion regulation difficulty