Recognizing and treating common psychiatric disorders in multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
The rate of depression and other psychiatric disorders is greater in multiple sclerosis (MS) than in other chronic conditions or neurologic diseases. This means that clinical neurologists seeing MS patients will frequently be engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric distress.


RESULTS
This review provides a summary of what is known about psychiatric dysfunction in MS. It offers information about the current views on the link between various psychiatric disorders and MS. More important, it offers suggestions on how the knowledge from existing research can be integrated into real-world practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians need to understand the factors that influence the development of psychiatric disorders in MS, the relationship between disease-modifying therapies and psychiatric distress, and the issues surrounding the treatment of psychiatric conditions in MS. Thorough knowledge of psychiatric dysfunction and MS will allow the clinician to design an effective treatment regimen that helps patients cope with their disease.
Wilken
Jeffrey A
JA
Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. Jeffwilken1@aol.com
Sullivan
Cynthia
C
D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020828:Pseudobulbar Palsy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents