title: Symptom changes in multiple sclerosis following psychological interventions: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple Sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system involving a variety of debilitating physical, sensory, cognitive and emotional symptoms. This literature review evaluated the impact of psychological interventions on the physiological symptoms associated with the illness.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search was conducted using Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library databases, as well as reference lists. Relevant studies were selected and assessed according to a preset protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search produced 220 articles, with 22 meeting inclusion criteria for the review. A total of 5,705 subjects with Multiple Sclerosis were analyzed. Results from the included studies indicate a general improvement in both psychological and physiological outcomes following psychological treatment. The most highly influenced physical symptoms include fatigue, sleep disturbances, pain, and physical vitality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings from the review suggest a positive relationship between psychological interventions and physiological Multiple Sclerosis symptoms. Implications for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy. francesco.pagnini@unicatt.it.|Niguarda Ca' Granda Hospital, Milan, Italy. francesco.pagnini@unicatt.it.|Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. francesco.pagnini@unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pagnini
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. bosma.colin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Colin M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bosma
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. drp0125@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. langer@wjh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Langer
mesh_terms: D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*