title: Time perception and illness acceptance among remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis patients under treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine temporal orientation in patients diagnosed with RR-MS as compared with that of healthy individuals; to analyse self-evaluated acceptance levels in terms of physical and psychological condition and self-reliance; an attempt to identify factors of illness acceptance in patients with RR-MS including temporal perspective.
  
  
  METHODS
  Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS, adapted into Polish by Z. Juczyński), Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI, adapted into Polish by M. Mażewski), and original interview aimed to assess socio-demographic data and self-evaluated physical as well as psychological condition and self-reliance of patients with MS (referred to the neurological testing according to the EDSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with RR-MS focus on fatalistic and hedonistic present more than healthy individuals. They also tend to reflect on their negative past experience. Acceptance of illness correlated positively with subjective assessment of physical and psychological condition as well as self-reliance, and negatively with objective disability score (measured with the use of EDSS) and a factor considering time of disease duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Avoiding contemplation of negative past and concentrating on hedonistic future constitute significant predictors of illness acceptance. These results may be of importance in terms of holistic approach to treatment of RR-MS patients. In the initial stage of the disease progression, patients might benefit from psychological support due to change in temporal orientation.
authors.affiliation: Instytut Psychologii Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego w Szczecinie.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Król
authors.affiliation: Instytut Psychologii Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego w Szczecinie.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szcześniak
authors.affiliation: Katedra i Klinika Neurologii PUM w Szczecinie.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koziarska
authors.affiliation: Uniwersytet SWPS, Wydział Zamiejscowy w Poznaniu.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rzepa
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D055809:Illness Behavior; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000523:psychology*; D011044:Poland; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013998:Time Perception
keywords: acceptance of illness; multiple sclerosis; temporal perspective