[Psychological and neuropsychological problems in multiple sclerosis].
Neuropsychological investigations have demonstrated that cognitive disorders are common (about 60%) in patients with multiple sclerosis. 22 patients and 22 controls participated in the study with a review of literature. The cognitive dysfunction may be termed a subcortical white matter dementia. The hallmarks are: forgetfulness, reduced speed of information processing, impaired attention and slowness of thought processes, impaired ability to manipulate acquired knowledge. Psychiatric disturbance have also high prevalence: emotional or personality changes, depression. Pathological laughing and crying are classical but not well understood. This intellectual and emotional changes in multiple sclerosis are studied by adapted psychometric psychiatric examination. Correlation of magnetic resonance imaging with neuropsychological testing is now demonstrated. Total lesion score is the best predictor of cognitive deficits, cerebral atrophy and lesions of the corpus collosium also. Neuropsychological rehabilitation techniques and symptomatic treatments must be applied to patients with multiple sclerosis.
Béquet
Daniel
D
Service de neurologie, HIA du Val de Grâce, 74 Boulevard de Port Royal-75005 Paris.
Taillia
Hervé
H
Clervoy
Patrick
P
Renard
Jean-Luc
JL
Flocard
Frédéric
F
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000209:etiology