@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2252-0805    The Horizon of Medical Sciences 2018;24(4):294-300

Background
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive and degenerative disorder that affects myelin in the central nervous system and sensory-motor function is involved, as well [1].
Previous Studies
.... [2-12]. In Veauthier & Paul research, the direct correlation between multiple sclerosis-related sleep disorders and the interpersonal function of patients was proved [13], as well as Howard et al. reported a relationship between interpersonal problems and depression in multiple sclerosis disease [14]. ... [15-23]. Solution-focused therapy is effective in improving communication skills [24], quality of life for children [25], as well as resilience and sense of coherence of MS patients [26]. In this therapy, it is believed that people have strengths, resources, and solving problem skills [23]. The therapists try to talk about solutions, instead of talking about the problem and its explanation [27]. It helps the authorities to develop exceptions, including effective methods that have previously been used by the authorities, instead of focusing on the concerns [28]. Its principles include focusing on solutions, having cooperative and collaborative approach, small changes can lead to large outcomes, emphasis on the process, the strategic integration approach, a short and summarized plan but not always, being responsive to intercultural issues and cultural diversity [23].
Aim(s)
This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of group-based solution-focused therapy on interpersonal problems in patients with MS.
Research type
The research method was semi-experimental with pretest/posttest and control group design
Research society, place and time
The statistical population of this study included all members of Multiple Sclerosis Association of Mashhad during the Winter 2016 to the Spring 2017.
Sampling method and number
The sample consisted of 40 patients from the Multiple Sclerosis Association of Mashhad selected by available sampling method.
Used devices&materials
The inclusion criterion included the members of the Multiple Sclerosis Association of Khorasan Razavi, no participation in other psychotherapy trainings and the informed consent. Exclusion criteria included the absence of more than one session in the group therapy, participation in other psychotherapy trainings, and the lack of willingness of participants to collaborate in the research. The sample consisted of 40 patients who were members of the Multiple Sclerosis Association of Mashhad selected by available sampling method. For sampling, only 112 patients out of 4900 members of the association were voluntarily participated in the research (questionnaire-based purposive sampling), of whom 60 subjects obtained the highest scores in the interpersonal problems scale compared to the average scores. Based on previous studies, the mean score of the study population assumed normal. The average score of interpersonal problems was considered 80. 40 subjects out of 60 were randomly selected and assigned to two groups (n=20 for each group), including the experimental and control groups. The groups were subjected to the pretest followed by group-based solution-focused therapy based on a brief solution-focused therapy intervention protocol in six 120-min sessions weekly for the experimental group. Post-test was performed from both groups at the end of the sessions and it should be noted that this study did not include a follow-up phase (Table 1). The 32-item Barkham, Hardy and Startup’s Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (1994) was used to assess interpersonal problems.
Findings by Text
Descriptive indices of pre-test and post-test of this research are as follows: The mean and standard deviation of interpersonal problems in the pre-test, in the experimental and the control groups obtained 110.85, 22.26 and 120.40, 16.44, respectively; however, in the post-test, the mean and standard deviation of interpersonal problems in the experimental and control groups were 101.55, 22.56 and 119.90, 15.80, respectively (Table 3). The results of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to evaluate normal distribution of scores of interpersonal problems are reported in Table 4. According this table, the null hypothesis for normal distribution of the scores of two groups was confirmed for interpersonal problems. The effectiveness of group-based solution-focused therapy on interpersonal problems of patients with MS was considered as the research hypothesis and one-way covariance analysis was used to test it. As shown in Table 5, the F value for interpersonal problems was not significant, accordingly, the homogeneity of regression is confirmed. Levine's test results for interpersonal problems were not significant. Therefore, variance of the experiment and control groups for interpersonal problems was not significant; accordingly, the assumption of the homogeneity of variances is confirmed and the null hypothesis was confirmed for homogeneity of variances in two groups (Table 6). There was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in interpersonal problems (P<0.001; F=81.31) by pre-test control. In other words, group-based solution-focused therapy, based on the mean scores of interpersonal problems in the experimental group compared with that of control group reduced the interpersonal problems in the experimental group. The effect size or difference obtained 0.69. In other words, 69% of individual differences in post-test scores of interpersonal problems were caused by group-based psychosocial therapy. Therefore, the research hypothesis is confirmed (Table 7).
Main comparison to the similar studies
... [30-33]. The findings of this study were consistent with the results of Karami et al. research, which showed that group-based solution-focused therapy is effective to reduce verbal and physical aggression and increase reasoning skill [34]. This finding is also consistent with the results of Sharme et al., who indicated that short-term training of the principles of communicating methods of solution-focused therapy for nurses can be effective in different aspects of communication skills in nurses, including general communication, communication therapy, psychological support for patients, and their attitude toward the relationship with the patient [35]. Finally, these findings were consistent with the results of the Brzezowskl and Cepukiene & Pakrosnis studies, in which solution-focused therapy could reduce anger and behavioral problems [36-37].
Suggestions
Follow-up tests at different intervals to re-evaluate the effectiveness of group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy are recommended to examine its stability.
Limitations
Because of the type of disease and the limitations of the MS Association, the random selection of the research sample was not provided and the sample was selected by convenience sampling.
Conclusions
Group-based solution-focused therapy due to the non-pathological and approach perspective with the communicative factor can lead to solve interpersonal problems in patients with MS.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to the staff of the MS Association of Mashhad for their cooperation to carry out this research.
Conflict of interest
None declared.
Ethical Permissions
None declared.
Funding Sources
This research is extracted from the M.Sc. thesis in Clinical Psychology by Ms. Saydeh Hosseini Tabatabaei.

TABLES and CHARTS

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