Intolerance of Uncertainty
Open accessAbstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and progressive neurologic condition that, by its nature, carries uncertainty as a hallmark characteristic. Although all patients face uncertainty, there is variability in how individuals cope with its presence. In other populations, the concept of "intolerance of uncertainty" has been conceptualized to explain this variability such that individuals who have difficulty tolerating the possibility of future occurrences may engage in thoughts or behaviors by which they attempt to exert control over that possibility or lessen the uncertainty but may, as a result, experience worse outcomes, particularly in terms of psychological well-being. This topical review introduces MS-focused researchers, clinicians, and patients to intolerance of uncertainty, integrates the concept with what is already understood about coping with MS, and suggests future steps for conceptual, assessment, and treatment-focused research that may benefit from integrating intolerance of uncertainty as a central feature.
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IU is the core of MS and cannot be considered as a result of depression or anxiety caused by the disease.
“Moreover, as IU is the core of MS and cannot be considered as a result of depression or anxiety caused by the disease,[23] this intervention can be promoted as a universal, effective, integrated treatment exclusively for MS”
From The effectiveness of group intervention focused on intolerance of uncertainty on psychological distress and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients (2023) · cites this paper as [23]
In “How Might IU Affect Individuals with MS?” (page unavailable), the paper says uncertainty is prominent in MS but that research supporting a role for IU is scarce. In “Developing Treatments That Target IU” (page unavailable), it asks whether coping with uncertainty might be a central psychological feature of MS; it does not establish that IU is the core of MS or rule out its being a result of depression or anxiety. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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- Authors
- Alschuler, K. N., & Beier, M. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Washington (US)
- Corresponding author
- Alschuler, Kevin N.
- Venue
- International Journal of MS Care
- Published
- 2015-07-01
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 153-158
- ISSN
- 1537-2073 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4542709
- OpenAlex
- W2328216151
- Cited by
- 76
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 3.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of MS Care (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Keywords
- intolerance of uncertainty, multiple sclerosis, coping, psychological well-being, uncertainty, psychological assessment, treatment
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