[Effects of humor therapy on fatigue and depression of multiple sclerosis [MS] patients]

Multiple sclerosis [MS] is the most common disabling condition in young adults, which is caused by an inflammatory demyelination process in central nervous system. Fatigue and depression are the primary symptoms leading to dysfunction as well as disability in activities of daily living and decreased quality of life. Because of many drug-associated complications, applying other methods to lessen the symptoms seems reasonable. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of humor on fatigue and depression of clients referring to Iranian MS Society. In this one-group before-after clinical trial, 30 MS clients were selected by convenience sampling method. A 4-part questionnaire including demographics, items related to the condition, Fatigue Severity Scale [FSS] and Beck's Depression Inventory was used for data collection, validated and made reliable by content and test-retest methods respectively. The clients took part in humor therapy sessions 3 times a week, each lasting 30 minutes for 12 weeks. The sessions were hold during the day with entertaining and funny programs recorded on compact discs [CDs]. The clients completed the questionnaire before and after the intervention. Data were then analyzed by different statistical methods. A significant decrease was found in mean severities of fatigue and depression after the intervention [P<0.01]. Therefore, the hypothesis of the study denoting the effects of humor therapy on severity of fatigue and depression in clients with MS was verified. The study revealed that humor therapy may decrease the fatigue and depression of clients with MS. Humor as a simple, low-cost and noninvasive method can be used to overcome many problems of these clients and ultimately lead to decreased fatigue and depression

[ study of training demands of MS patients, members of Iran's MS society in 2007]

This research is a descriptive study about training needs of MS patients who are members of Iran's MS Society and aims at presenting a proper training model for these patients in 2007. In this study 174 patients referred to Iran's MS Society were chosen with simple randomized method from patients who fulfilled required criteria. Data were collected through questionnaire containing 4 parts. First part contained 16 questions about personal information, second part was about patients views to their training needs, third part contained 8 questions surveying patients willing to know more about the disease nature, and in the fourth part there were 41 questions about their training demands in relation with physical, psychologic, and socioeconomic categories. The results revealed that the age range of most cases [26.4%] was between 32-39 years, 71.3% were female, 59.8% were married, and 27.7% of patients had a history of less than 3 years of being afflicted with the disease. The results related to the first part of the study showed that 39.1% of cases had high training needs. Findings revealed that as for the second part of the study, 0.6% of cases had high training requirements for knowing about disease nature. In relation to the third part, findings showed that 94% of cases had sexual dysfunctions and needed more training accordingly. The study findings in fourth part implied that 61.5% of cases had training needs about anxiety control methods. Findings in fifth part showed that 61.5% of cases required some training about difficulties facing in procuring medicine. Findings related to sixth part showed that there was significant relation between patients training needs about somatic issues and the education level [p=0.027]. Also there was significant relation between training demands in psychologic category and the education level [p=0.003]. There was significant relation between training demands in psychologic category and accepting the illness [p=0.035]. There was significant relation between patients training needs about somatic issues and frequency of being hospitalized [p=0.004]. There was significant relation between patients training needs about psychologic issues and frequency of being hospitalized [p