Mental health and BIS/BAS dimensions in Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis patients and in stroke survivors

Abstract

Mental health dimensions were compared among 46 Parkinson's disease patients, 46 multiple sclerosis patients and 32 stroke survivors. In addition, the role of the behavioural activation system (BAS) and the behavioural inhibition system (BIS) as mediators between disorders and mental health was investigated. The sample consisted of 124 neurological patients: all Caucasian adults (73 females and 51 males) aged 19–75 years. To assess the mental health of the patients, Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire–28 was used, and the BAS and BIS were assessed with Carver and White's BIS/BAS scales. The results showed that the mental health dimensions were higher in the stroke group than in the Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis groups. The BIS/BAS systems partially mediated between stroke and mental health dimensions. The BIS increased while the BAS decreased the minor psychiatric disorders in patient groups.