Prediction of Functional Impairment from Patient Evaluations of Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms and Symptom Change

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a survey using an inexpensive self-report instrument to assess patient evaluations of severity of symptoms among those with multiple sclerosis (MS). A mail survey of New York City MS chapter members resulted in collection of 747 questionnaires to gather information on self-assessed symptom severity, functional impairment, and demographic characteristics of the respondents. Data focusing on patients' perceptions of variation in symptom severity over time and the relationship between patient-assessed symptom severity and functional impairment are presented. Patient perceptions mirrored the clinical picture: MS symptoms were reported to increase in severity over time for the majority of patients. Perceived symptom severity accounted for about one-half of the variation in functional impairment, an indication that other factors in addition to the physical impairment itself are related to how disabled the MS patient becomes.