The Experience of Scleroderma, Stressful Life Events, Attachment, Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Resilience.

Researcher: Ms Karen
Kearney- Supervisor: Dr. Dee Bartrum

Aim

 The, purpose of the current it study was to investigate the relationship between psychological factors that may impede functioning of the immune
system and scleroderma. These factors included stressful life events and the aspects that may result from exposure to these stressors, such as insecure attachment, anxiety disorders (such as
post traumatic stress) depression and resilience. Several other factors such as a change of lifestyle, type of scleroderma and pituitary adenoma were also investigated.

Participants: Two hundred and eighty- three individuals from Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States of America completed the scleroderma questionnaire.

Findings

Seventy percent of participants reported having experienced post traumatic stress symptoms before being diagnosed with scleroderma and 31.5% reported currently experiencing these symptoms. Participants also reported significantly high rates of stressful life events, depression and anxiety disorders (before diagnosis of scleroderma) and pituitary adenomas than that reported in the general population.

Stressful life events and insecure attachment were significant predictors of post traumatic stress symptoms before diagnosis of scleroderma and therefore may be influential in the prognosis, but
not the severity of scleroderma.

Severity of scleroderma symptoms was predicted by depression and/ or anxiety disorders and low resilience in the total scleroderma sample.

Findings for limited and diffuse sclerosis found different predictors for severity of scleroderma. For limited sclerosis, those who reported low resilience and a diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression had more severe scleroderma symptoms, while those with diffuse sclerosis who reported a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder and exposure to the stressor when diagnosed with scleroderma had
more severe scleroderma symptoms.

A number of people who reported a change of lifestyle and a reduction in scleroderma symptom's

severity stated they had experienced less stress by changing or ceasing stressful employment situations or moving out of stressful relationships (psychological stressors ). Others reported changing how they cared for themselves to reduce exposure to cold (Raynaud's: physical stressors).



Recommendations

It is recommended that those participants who reported currently experiencing post traumatic stress - symptoms (questions about how they felt - after experiencing a stressful life event),depression and anxiety speak to their doctor to obtain a referral to a psychologist. The scale...used in this questionnaire measures PTSD symptoms only and is not a diagnosis of PTSD. A psychologist will be able to assess your symptoms and verify diagnosis. Stress management counselling and positive lifestyle changes are also recommended as these techniques may be beneficial in reducing the severity of scleroderma symptoms.

Kearney and Bartrum, researchers,The Experience of Scleroderma, Stressful Life Events, Attachment, Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Resilience. in Scleroderma Outlook, No. 170 February 2009

Taken from a  research paper previously at Scleroderma Australia's website.