Table 1.
Number of responses for all items of the fear of relapse scale (percentage).
| Items | Never | Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always | Missing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. I feel another relapse is about to happen whenever I get red eyes or feel pain behind my eyes. | 73 (43.5) | 42 (25) | 28 (16.7) | 15 (8.9) | 9 (5.4) | 1 |
| 2. Another relapse means another hospitalization | 61 (36.3) | 28 (16.7) | 41 (24.4) | 17 (10.1) | 19 (11.3) | 2 |
| 3. My appearance gives away the fact that I am experiencing a relapse. | 68 (40.5) | 38 (22.6) | 33 (19.6) | 16 (9.5) | 10 (6) | 3 |
| 4. Each relapse means the disease is spreading in the nervous system. | 34 (20.2) | 40 (23.8) | 52 (31) | 25 (14.9) | 13 (7.7) | 4 |
| 5. I do a lot of exercises because I am afraid of experiencing a relapse. | 67 (39.9) | 41 (24.4) | 28 (16.7) | 19 (11.3) | 12 (7.1) | 1 |
| 6. I don’t drive in fear of a relapse. | 111 (66.1) | 11 (6.5) | 14 (8.3) | 9 (5.4) | 21 (12.5) | 2 |
| 7. Whenever a relapse happens, it can only be managed with more corticosteroids. | 57 (33.9) | 23 (13.7) | 35 (20.8) | 26 (15.5) | 25 (14.9) | 2 |
| 8. The disease will come back in the form of a relapse if I stop taking medication for one month. | 50 (29.8) | 34 (20.2) | 32 (19) | 17 (10.1) | 32 (19) | 3 |
| 9. Each relapse takes me one step closer to becoming bedridden. | 52 (31) | 37 (22) | 38 (22.6) | 24 (14.3) | 17 (10.1) | 0 |
| 10. Each relapse will make me more dependent on other people. | 48 (28.6) | 33 (19.6) | 29 (17.3) | 29 (17.3) | 28 (16.7) | 1 |
| 11. Thinking about relapses makes my heart jitter. | 42 (25) | 35 (20.8) | 40 (23.8) | 27 (16.1) | 23 (13.7) | 1 |
| 12. After each relapse, I put all my task and duties aside. | 60 (35.7) | 49 (29.2) | 33 (19.6) | 16 (9.5) | 8 (4.8) | 2 |
| 13. A severe relapse with strong symptoms can result in death. | 115 (68.5) | 24 (14.3) | 20 (11.9) | 6 (3.6) | 3 (1.8) | 0 |
| 14. Any experience of numbness and tingling in my limbs means I am having another relapse. | 47 (28) | 51 (30.4) | 40 (23.8) | 17 (10.1) | 13 (7.7) | 0 |
| 15. Heat can trigger a relapse. | 26 (15.5) | 39(23.2) | 39 (23.2) | 38 (22.6) | 26 (15.5) | 0 |
| 16. Relapses cause memory decline. | 47 (28) | 31 (18.5) | 44 (26.2) | 30 (17.9) | 14 (8.3) | 2 |
| 17. Relapses cause loss of control over movement and posture stability. | 32 (19) | 36 (21.4) | 39 (23.2) | 36 (21.4) | 24 (14.3) | 1 |
| 18. When I think about relapse, I am unable to think about anything else. | 43 (25.6) | 47 (28) | 29 (17.3) | 21 (12.5) | 25 (14.9) | 3 |
| 19. Grave news can trigger a relapse. | 20 (11.9) | 33 (19.6) | 54 (32.1) | 39 (23.2) | 20 (11.9) | 2 |
| 20. Due to fear of a sudden relapse, I try not to take a shower when I am home alone. | 143 (85.1) | 13 (7.7) | 6 (3.6) | 3 (1.8) | 3 (1.8) | 0 |
| 21. Relapses worsen the level of fatigue I feel. | 25 (14.9) | 27 (16.1) | 46 (27.4) | 38 (22.6) | 31 (18.5) | 1 |
| 22. Relapses can cause urine and stool incontinence. | 78 (46.4) | 27 (16.1) | 33 (19.6) | 18 (10.7) | 8 (4.8) | 4 |
| 23. I try not to go out much due to the fear of experiencing a sudden relapse. | 118 (70.2) | 13 (7.7) | 18 (10.7) | 11 (6.5) | 6 (3.6) | 2 |
| 24. Thinking about the disease decreases my libido significantly. | 83 (49.4) | 28 (16.7) | 28 (16.7) | 13 (7.7) | 15 (8.9) | 1 |
| 25. I don’t accept new tasks due to fear of relapses. | 97 (57.7) | 20 (11.9) | 23 (13.7) | 18 (10.7) | 8 (4.8) | 2 |
| 26. A bad headache can be a sign of a sudden relapse. | 64 (38.1) | 51 (30.4) | 30 (17.9) | 11 (6.5) | 9 (5.4) | 3 |
| 27. Whenever I drop anything, I think I am about to have a relapse. | 69 (41.1) | 41 (24.4) | 27 (16.1) | 19 (11.3) | 12 (7.1) | 0 |
| 28. The thought of experiencing a relapse makes me cry. | 67 (39.9) | 27 (16.1) | 22 (13.1) | 19 (11.3) | 32 (19) | 1 |
| 29. Not knowing when the next relapse is going to happen is very annoying to me. | 83 (49.4) | 24 (14.3) | 18 (10.7) | 17 (10.1) | 24 (14.3) | 2 |
| 30. I think increased sensitivity to exercises or tastes can be a sign of relapse. | 129 (76.8) | 21 (12.5) | 10 (6) | 6 (3.6) | 2 (1.2) | 0 |
| 31. Blurred vision or double vision can be a sign of relapse. | 16 (9.5) | 26 (15.5) | 45 (26.8) | 41 (24.4) | 40 (23.8) | 0 |