Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) often experience a decline in their quality of life. This decline is often linked to the presence of one or more symptoms or problems caused by the disease, especially as it progresses.
Factors impacting quality of life for a patient with multiple sclerosis:
(1) physical disability with increasing dependency (loss of self-efficacy)
(2) fatigue
(3) cognitive impairment
(4) depression and/or anxiety
(5) changes in personality and behavior
(6) economic difficulties
(7) pain
(8) poor sleep quality
(9) difficulty coping
(10) social isolation and lack of support
A patient with one or more of these findings should be asked about the quality of life. Many of the problems can be addressed once identified.
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