title: Patients' perspectives on quality of mental health care for people with MS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to obtain multiple sclerosis (MS) patients' report on their experience receiving mental health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We convened focus groups at four MS clinical care centers to identify the aspects of mental health care that were important to people with MS. All patients (n=54) had received mental health care in the past year. Data were analyzed by coding comments under specific themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients wanted prompt intervention after diagnosis and ongoing screening for mental health problems; they prefer providers with knowledge about MS and experience working with people with MS; they appreciated being able to access mental health services that were on-site at their MS center and noted the benefit of inclusion of family members in treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mental health care should be provided promptly after diagnosis, with regular screening and interventions that include family members as indicated thereafter. Mental health providers should be familiar with MS, collaborate with neurologic care providers and provide services on-site at MS centers.
authors.affiliation: Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. drintell@partners.org
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rintell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Frankel
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Minden
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Glanz
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D057240:Patient Preference; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D014481:United States