The psychosocial effect of multiple sclerosis: The impact of relapses

Halper, June

doi:10.1016/j.jns.2007.01.059

Cited by 55 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Table 1 p 205). Although employers are concerned about the ability of the individual to meet job requirements [7], the present results support the notion that most employers want to do the right thing by valued employees, and hence an appropriately timed and advocacy-supported disclosure [23] could well lead to better understanding and more effective accommodation of people with MS in the workplace.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Living with multiple sclerosis: longitudinal changes in employment and the importance of symptom management

Tribe²,

2010

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People with multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to have lower participation in paid employment compared to those with other chronic diseases. In two large-sample, self-report surveys of MS patients performed 4 years apart, employment rates were measured both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The reasons for employment loss and perceived risk of future employment loss were also assessed. A total of 1,135 patients responded to the first survey, 1,329 to the second, and 667 to both. Longitudinal loss of employment was 5.4% over the 4 years 2003-2007, a period of relative national economic prosperity. By 2007, 56% of MS patients had lost employment due to MS and 64% were not in the paid labour force. Regression analysis indicated that men were more likely than women to leave their employment because of their MS, and older people were more likely than younger ones to do so. Level of occupational skill using Australian Bureau of Statistics categorisation was not predictive of maintaining or losing employment. The main reasons reported by people with MS for their loss of employment involved the ineffective management of symptoms of MS in the workplace, rather than workplace-related factors including insufficient flexibility of employment conditions or being asked to leave or sacked. The most frequently listed symptoms relating to employment loss, and perceived risk of losing current employment, were fatigue, mobility-related symptoms, arm and hand difficulties, and cognitive deficits. These findings imply that many employees with MS are leaving their planning for effective symptom management, and for appropriate accommodations in the workplace, until such planning is too late to be effective. The potential advantages of early, supported disclosure of diagnosis to employers before MS symptoms become a problem are discussed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Living with multiple sclerosis: longitudinal changes in employment and the importance of symptom management

Tribe²,

2010

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“…Recent evidence has shown that disease-modifying therapy reduces the frequency and severity of MS relapses, an important goal of MS management. Nevertheless, it is important for clinicians to be familiar with the widespread psychosocial impact of MS in terms of their patients' social involvement, partnership and family roles, and employment [30]. The results of our study showed some differences from Halper's study, concluding that social activities were not related with subtype (either relapsing-remitting, or progressive) of disease.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 80%

Anxiety and social activities in multiple sclerosis patients

Leonavičius

Adomaitienė

2012

Open Medicine

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AbstractDespite that the prevalence of depression has been thoroughly analyzed in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and affects approximately 15%–20% of the MS population, attention paid to social activities concomitant with anxiety is still too sporadic. The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of anxiety and social activities aggraded/aggravated with anxiety in the MS population in Lithuania and to analyze how it correlates with socio-demographic factors, clinical outcomes of MS and depression. Three hundred twelve MS patients took part in this study; anxiety prevalence was pointed in 20.2%. Only 23.4% of the study population was socially active. Our study shows a significant level of anxiety and low level of social activity in people with MS. Anxiety in MS patients was strongly related with younger age, shorter MS duration, prevalence of depression and lower level of social activity. A higher level of social activity was significantly related with older urban MS patients who indicated family status as living together and longer MS duration.

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“…Relapses can have a significant physical, psychological and social impact on patients, and place a substantial cost burden on patients, their families and healthcare systems. [42][43][44] However, it is the accumulation of disability which has the greatest long-term clinical, social and economic impact on patients and society. 45 46 Generally, DMTs were superior to placebo in reducing MS relapse rates and disability progression.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%