Introduction
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurologically related disease characterised by respiratory complications postonset, eventually progressing to paralysis, with a median survival period of 3–5 years.1–3 The global incidence of ALS stands at approximately 1–2.6 per 1 000 000 individuals, with a prevalence of 5–6 per 100 000.4 5 Recent statistics indicate an annual incidence of 1.6 per 100 000 worldwide,6 while in China, the annual incidence is reported at 1.24 per 100 000.7 Despite being a rare disease, over 90% of ALS cases lack a family genetic history.7 8 This condition not only compromises patients’ physical functions and social interactions but also profoundly impacts their mental well-being.9 ALS patients often report autonomic symptoms, heightened pain, sleep disturbances and gastrointestinal dysfunction, alongside increased fatigue resulting from decreased limb function and psychiatric symptoms.10 11 Given the incurable nature of ALS, prioritising and enhancing the quality of life for affected individuals is of paramount importance.
Patients’ mental well-being significantly influences their overall quality of life.12 Individuals living with ALS commonly experience negative emotions such as anxiety, fear and depression throughout the course of the disease.13 Studies have indicated that the prevalence of depression among ALS patients varies between 8% and 56%.14–16 Moreover, there exists a direct correlation between a patient’s psychological stress levels and their heightened risk of mortality.17 Stressors such as loss of limb function and financial strain contribute to increased psychological burdens, reduced mobility and may even elevate the risk of suicide.18 19 This psychological distress persists throughout the progression of ALS.20
Qualitative research related to ALS primarily delves into the lived experiences of ALS patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals. Studies depict the challenges faced by individual ALS patients, including physical limitations, psychological interventions and so forth.21–24 They explore the experiences of ALS patient caregivers, revealing the economic, emotional and physical burdens they encounter.25–27 Healthcare professionals often approach ALS from the perspectives of clinical treatment efficacy, personalised prognosis, rehabilitation therapy and feasibility of care plans.28–30 However, there is a lack of research into the psychological distress experienced by ALS patients throughout the disease process. This study addresses this gap by understanding the disease-related suffering experienced by ALS patients. This understanding is beneficial for interpreting and comprehending the psychological barriers faced by ALS patients throughout the disease trajectory, which can significantly enhance knowledge on how to better cope with the psychological trauma caused by ALS.8 20 Simultaneously, it provides theoretical and directional guidance for family caregivers and clinical professionals in providing psychological care for ALS patients.
Method
Design
This study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach using semistructured interviews, with the primary aim of exploring the psychological distress experiences of ALS patients. Purposive sampling and snowball sampling were utilised for participant selection. The study adhered to the Unified Standards of Qualitative Research Reporting checklist as a guideline.31
Participants
This study recruited those diagnosed with ALS and treated in the motor neuron disease rehabilitation centre of a tertiary Chinese medicine hospital in Wuhan, China, from April to May 2023. Inclusion criteria: (1) patients diagnosed with ALS according to the Gold Coast Principles;32 (2) patients with basic communication skills or who are able to communicate using non-verbal methods such as using a communication board or typing on a computer and (3) agree to participate in this study and sign the informed consent form. Exclusion criteria: (1) severe mental disorders or organic diseases; (2) patients experiencing severe respiratory distress and speech impediments and (3) patients who explicitly declined to be interviewed.
Data collection
Based on the research objectives, a semistructured face-to-face interview guide was initially formulated, drawing from literature review and clinical consultations. Prior to the main study, three patients were interviewed, and based on expert feedback, the interview guide was revised and finalised (see online supplemental 1 for the ultimate interview guide).
Supplemental material
The interviews were conducted by two nursing master’s students who had received professional training. The entire interview process was documented, with the interview guide serving as the core framework. The sequence of questions was adjusted as necessary based on the actual interview circumstances, with repetitions, probes and summaries employed as needed. To ensure participants’ comprehension of interview questions, explanations were provided by the interviewers based on the participants’ cultural background and understanding. All interviews took place in a separate hospital room to safeguard patient privacy and ensure a quiet, undisturbed environment. No individuals other than the interviewer and participants were present during the interviews.
With patients’ consent, all interviews were recorded and filmed, and the interview content was transcribed verbatim within 24 hours. Transcribed texts were organised and returned to patients for review to ensure accuracy. Interviews were conducted in Chinese and later translated into English, with all authors reviewing the translations. To maintain the authenticity of interview data, participants’ viewpoints were evaluated and guided by the interviewers. To safeguard patient privacy, participants’ names were replaced with ‘p+number’.
A total of 24 patients were invited to participate in the interviews, with two refusing. Reasons for refusal included difficulty discussing feelings and unwillingness to spend time on research. Ultimately, 22 participants were included, comprising 14 males and 8 females. Each interview lasted approximately 20 to 40 min.
Data analysis
After the interviews, Yiqing Yu transcribed the audio into text within 24 hours and listened to it again for accuracy. Simultaneously, during the transcription process, Yiqing Yu watched the interview videos to observe changes in the interviewees’ tone of voice and facial expressions, aiming to analyse their feelings more accurately. The transcribed text was then provided to the participants for feedback to ensure transcription accuracy.
This study employed Colaizzi’s data analysis method.33 The steps included: (1) transcribing and organising the raw interview data; (2) reading to extract significant statements related to the psychological distress experiences of ALS patients; (3) understanding the deep psychological meanings behind the extracted significant statements; (4) categorising meaningful common features or concepts, organising them into themes, thematic groups and categories for revealing experiences or viewpoints conveniently; (5) synthesising categorised results into exhaustive descriptions of psychological distress experiences; (6) framing exhaustive descriptions into descriptive expressions with identification and hierarchy and (7) providing descriptive expressions to participants for validation of accuracy and completeness. These steps were repeated to ensure complete understanding and saturation of statements and data.
Quality control
The research team, experienced in ALS-related studies, has established a robust foundation. Prior to commencement, detailed interview guidelines were crafted to ensure uniform questioning for all participants, thus guaranteeing data comparability and consistency. Interviewers received standardised training, demonstrating proficient communication skills. Interviews utilised a blend of written transcripts, audio and video recordings to precisely capture participant expressions, aiding subsequent analysis and validation. Periodic reviews of interview transcripts and notes were conducted throughout the data analysis process, employing diverse assessment methods to ensure data accuracy. The research report provides an honest and transparent account of the interview process, methodologies, and analysis procedures.
Ethical consideration
The study was reviewed and approved by the ethical review board of Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (HBZY2022-C42-01). Participants received oral and written information about the study and were assured of legal data storage and anonymity. All participants signed informed consent and knew the right to withdraw consent without penalty. During data analysis, each participant was coded to ensure anonymity.
Patient and public involvement
During this study, participants and the public did not directly engage in the design of the interview guide and research process, nor did they assess the measurement of outcomes, but they were primary contributors to the research findings.
Discussion
Previous research has primarily focused on the disease experiences of ALS patients, aiming to construct a family self-help model and explore existential values from the patients’ perspective.21 In contrast, our study specifically tracks the psychological distress arising during the course of ALS, aiming to delineate the psychological characteristics of patients. In this study, patients reported experiencing anxiety, unease, doubt and shock due to the disease, alongside the psychological burden of declining personal function, loss of family roles and emotional support and concerns about their children’s health. Ultimately, patients grapple with the balance between life and death, as well as between life quality and existential values. Our research provides insights into the psychological distress experienced by ALS patients within the context of existing studies.
As an incurable clinical condition, the uncertainty of disease prognosis and time left to live can significantly affect the mood of ALS patients.34 During the diagnosis waiting period, patients may undergo a psychological process of breakdown, loss and self-denial.35 Interviewees expressed feelings of hopelessness due to the disease’s incurable nature during this period, leading them to feel it pointless to plan for the future.36 It is worth noting that the majority of interviewed ALS patients reported experiencing stigma associated with the disease, as highlighted in studies from Iran and the Netherlands, emphasising the psychological burden and negative emotions resulting from declining physical function, along with the impact of stigma on their quality of life.22 25 Similar to previous research,37 our study also documented how disease stigma influences the quality of life of ALS patients. As ALS advances, visible symptoms and reliance on assistive devices may increase stigma,38 39 affecting social interactions and potentially leading to social isolation, distress, burden, and reluctance to seek help.40 41
Our study highlights family factors as the primary source of psychological burden for ALS patients. This burden mainly arises from the decline in physical function and resulting changes in family roles.42 As physical abilities diminish, patients struggle to fulfil their usual household tasks and work obligations, often relying on caregivers for daily activities. Moreover, the physical fatigue caused by motor function loss can exacerbate psychological symptoms in ALS patients, impacting their overall quality of life.43 The quality of life for ALS patients is positively associated with social support levels but negatively linked to feelings of despair, burden, distress and depressive symptoms.44 As the disease progresses, patients increasingly depend on their families for additional assistance and support.45 Research suggests that a lack of social support heightens psychological distress among patients, while caregiver burden decreases with higher levels of social support, emphasising the importance of societal support for ALS patients and their families.22 45 Societal support typically encompasses strengthened policy protections and professional care, including long-term care insurance, medical investments, home visits, and community care.46 47
Additionally, interviewees expressed feelings of guilt and psychological burden towards their families. They attributed this to their inability to provide sufficient emotional support to their partners and concerns about their offspring. Typically, partners of ALS patients bear the primary responsibility for caregiving. Behavioural deficits in ALS patients and the time devoted to functional care are associated with caregivers’ depressive symptoms.26 48 Particularly, younger partners not only face the challenge of balancing patient care with supporting family development but also find their needs unmet within the marriage. This has contributed to the rising mortality rates among partners of ALS patients in recent years.49 Furthermore, ALS presents specific genetic characteristics,50 51 prompting patients to worry about passing the disease to their offspring and causing them psychological distress. Compared with children from typical households, children of ALS patients are more prone to health and socioemotional issues, including somatic symptoms, social isolation, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.52–56
In comparison to Yuan et al’s study,21 our participants were more inclined to discuss death. They perceived their care as a burden to their families, leading them to consider death as a means of alleviating this burden,19 yet they grappled with the knowledge that their passing would bring irreparable sorrow to their loved ones. Furthermore, they struggled to find a balance between enhancing their quality of life through physical treatments, medications, rehabilitation and assistive devices and seeking meaning in life. Throughout the progression of the disease, patients may contemplate their existential significance, impact on others and future expectations.57 This psychological struggle stems from the uncertainty faced by ALS patients,34 who worry about their inability to contribute meaningfully or become a burden to their families and society.
Improving the psychological well-being of ALS patients involves several approaches. First, change coping techniques and strategies.58 59 Patients can reduce psychological stress by either addressing the problems causing distress (problem-focused strategies) or managing emotional responses to stressors (emotion-focused strategies).40 Second, increasing social awareness and understanding is crucial. Combating stigma against ALS patients involves openly discussing the condition, engaging in positive social interactions and rejecting negative attitudes.60 Positive thinking interventions can also help reduce psychological distress caused by stigma.61 Finally, prioritising the quality of life for ALS patients and their families is essential. This includes raising awareness through community activities, providing psychological support for family members and educating about attitudes towards death.21 62
Our study findings indicate that ALS patients experience a diverse range of psychological distress throughout the course of the disease. These distresses are pervasive throughout the entire progression of the illness and cannot be resolved with a quick fix. Healthcare professionals and relevant mental health intervention specialists need to develop targeted intervention measures based on the specific reasons for psychological distress in ALS patients. Additionally, attention should be paid to the psychological well-being of ALS patients’ family members, particularly partners and children. In the future, establishing systematic psychological intervention programmes for ALS patients and their families would be meaningful, involving longitudinal tracking of their psychological changes and long-term monitoring and adjustment of their emotional states.
Several limitations of our work should be acknowledged. First, due to limited accessibility of the study population, all 22 participants in this study were from the same region in China, making it challenging to generalise their experiences to patients from other regions who may have different experiences. Second, due to factors such as varying lengths of hospital stays and high consultation rates, this study is cross-sectional, with participants being interviewed only once without longitudinal tracking. We believe this is necessary for future research. Additionally, some patients may have limited language expression due to the underlying disease, so we attempted to combine facial expressions and body movements or aids (such as writing boards and computer typing) to gain a more accurate understanding. Our study only included ALS patients themselves; future research could consider exploring the psychological distress experiences of ALS patients’ caregivers.
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