Trait anxiety and its consequences in patients with myasthenia gravis

Introduction
Myasthenia gravis (MG), also called Erb-Goldflam syndrome, is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease. The main symptom is excessive fatigue and weakness of skeletal muscles as a result of dysfunctional acetylcholine transmission (AChR). The previous data indicate that for people with MG almost all components of quality of life are deteriorated, which is related to both their physical condition and psychological functioning. Depressive and anxiety disorders are diagnosed much more often than in other people. The aim of the present study was to characterize the emotional functioning of patients with MG.

Material and methods
The research included 24 people with MG without severe somatic condition and 24 healthy people. State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS), Acceptance of Illness Scale and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: Fatigue Questionnaire (FACT-F) were used in the present study.

Results
Patients with MG get much higher results in the intensity level of anxiety treated as a trait. The low level of fatigue is associated with a decline in the level of current anxiety and reduces the intensity of emotional style in coping with stress. The acceptance of illness is related to a low level of anxiety and emotional strategies.

Conclusions
The emotional state plays an important role for patients with diagnosis of myasthenia gravis. For that reason the key matter seems to be providing people with MG with psychotherapeutic help, and improvement of cooperation between neurologists and psychotherapists.