Background: Multiple sclerosis is the first cause of non-traumatic
disability by young people in developed countries. There is currently no curative treatment for
this disease. This research is focused on the non-adherence to treatment, the use of
alternative/complementary medicine, and self-medication by the patients. Methods: population:
25 patients; data collection: 2 semi-directive interviews per patient; data analysis: IPA and
clinical analysis (qualitative approach). Findings: themes developed: real-life experience and
content of the diagnosis disclosure and the treatments’ presentation; beliefs, representations
and life-experience link to this disease and treatments; patient’s expectations and complexity
of the doctor-patient relationship; consequences of the rupture of the trust relationship
between patients and neurologists; psychological factors link to the non-adherence; different
types of alternative/complementary medicines used by multiple sclerosis’ patients,
self-medication and factors linked to these complex health behaviours;… Discussion: Patients’
distrust toward the treatments’ effectiveness, beliefs and angers linked to the disease and
treatments, and feeling of powerlessness due to the progressively crippling character of MS
explain the high presence of these health behaviours (risks for health) in order not to suffer
passively the disease.
