Exploring the psychological experiences of people living with a diagnosis of motor neurone disease

• Main Author: Mistry, Kriten
• Published: Lancaster University 2011
• Subjects: 616.839
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.587077

One of the aims of this study was to explore the psychological experiences of people diagnosed and living with motor neurone disease (MND). As qualitative research within this area is currently limited a literature review of other similar chronic conditions such as Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and Huntington's disease (HD), as well as MND, were evaluated using an meta-ethnographical approach. This approach was used as it allows for multiple cases, accounts, narratives or studies to be assimilated and interpreted so as to develop new understandings in areas where research may be limited. The review found that people living with one of the four conditions experienced similar difficulties and could be conceptualised under three main concepts. The second aim of this study was to explore the psychological experiences of people with a recent diagnosis of MND and the transitional process they experienced to accept their diagnosis and to make adjustments in their lives. An interpretative phenomenological approach (IPA) was used and three themes were constructed from the analysis of the data collected. The first described the sense of devastation people experienced when they realised they had been diagnosed with a life limiting condition. The second theme describes the processes of accepting and adjusting to the diagnosis. The third theme describes the progressive losses that were experienced as symptoms affected functional abilities and how this impacted on their lives. Ideas for future research were also discussed as well reflections on some of the difficulties that were experienced whilst completing the study.