Experienced Anxiety and Coping Styles vs Adherence in Patients with Myasthenia Gravis

Abstract

Introduction. Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a rare chronic immunological disease associated with a disorder of the neuromuscular junction. It is characterised by a variability of clinical symptoms. Myasthenia Gravis can be divided into two types: ocular and generalised. Patients with Myasthenia Gravis suffer from a sense of anxiety that results from the clinical picture and severity of the disease. They use a variety of coping strategies to manage this tension. Adherence, i.e. complying with therapeutic recommendations, is important for patient functioning and the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy in this group of patients.

Aim. This study aims to present ways of coping with experienced anxiety and how this affects adherence in patients with Myasthenia Gravis.

Material and Methods. The study was conducted in a group of 67 patients with MG. The majority were women. Literature analysis and a diagnostic survey were used for this purpose. Research tools included a survey questionnaire developed by the authors, which consisted of three parts and five standardised scales.

Results. The study showed that people with the generalised form of Myasthenia Gravis had higher levels of anxiety. As such, there may be greater limitations with this form of the disease. Myasthenia Gravis patients predominantly use emotion-oriented coping, which according to the literature is the least effective way. A medium level of adherence predominates in patients, indicating that patients are aware of the need to comply with medical recommendations.

Conclusions. The respondents are characterised by a medium level of adherence. There was a significant correlation between anxiety severity and adherence level. As the level of medication increases, adherence to treatment recommendations decreases. Myasthenia Gravis patients who use the distraction strategy exhibit higher levels of adherence. In contrast, MG patients follow treatment recommendations to a lesser extent with an avoidance strategy. The duration of the illness is not linked to the level of anxiety or the use of coping strategies to manage tension that involve moving on to something else or behavioural disengagement. (JNNN 2024;13(4):131–138)