Awareness Of Multiple Sclerosis Research Articles

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness in Jordan, and How Does It Affect the Time of Diagnosis

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness in Jordan, and How Does It Affect the Time of Diagnosis

52 Paediatric Neurological Diseases: What Does Active Canadian Surveillance Tell Us?

BackgroundPaediatric neurological diseases individually are rare; however, collectively affect thousands of children and have life-long impacts. The incidence of many of these is not readily available, and yet essential for...

Patient perceptions of multiple sclerosis and its treatment.

BackgroundIn order to improve the treatment outcome in multiple sclerosis, it is important to document the factors that influence adherence to therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine patient perceptions and awareness of multiple sclerosis and its treatment, treatment adherence, and impact on quality of life and daily living.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional observational study performed in France. Each participating neurologist included the first three patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who consulted after the start of the study. Data on clinical features were collected from a physician questionnaire and on disease and treatment perception and on quality of life from a patient autoquestionnaire.ResultsA total of 175 neurologists entered 202 patients in the study. The mean duration of disease was 8.0 ± 7.0 years, and immunomodulatory treatment had been administered for a mean duration of 3.0 ± 2.0 years. A total of 166 patients (82.2%) were treated with interferon-β preparations and 36 patients (17.8%) with glatiramer acetate. Eighty-five patients (42.1%) reported missing their injections from time to time and 36 patients (17.8%) reported “drug holidays”. The most frequently given reason for nonadherence was forgetfulness (38.7% of cases). Eighty-six patients (42.6%) and 70 patients (34.7%) claimed to be well informed about their disease and treatment, respectively. Adherence was significantly higher in well informed patients (P = 0.035). The majority of patients (176 patients, 87.1%) intended continuing their current treatment and 49.5% considered that their current treatment might reduce relapses. The most frequently reported side effect was muscle pain (124 patients, 61.4%).ConclusionPatient understanding of treatment for disease enhances treatment adherence. Greater patient involvement in disease management requires better communication between physicians and their patients.

Disease-modifying drugs and MS immunology

To highlight Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week, Bernadette Porter outlines disease immunology and treatment mechanisms

Psychiatric aspects of multiple sclerosis

A patient who presented with depressive and hysterical symptoms of several years' duration and who proved to have multiple sclerosis is presented. Two further cases whose initial symptoms of dissociation and major depression were prodromes of multiple sclerosis are also presented. A discussion of the factors leading to the correct diagnosis in these cases and reference to relevant literature on psychiatric presentations of multiple sclerosis are presented to illustrate the need for psychiatrists' awareness of multiple sclerosis as a causative factor in patients with a wide variety of psychiatric syndromes.