title: Multiple sclerosis: Etiology, symptoms, incidence and prevalence, and implications for community living and employment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article presents an overview of multiple sclerosis (MS), one of the most common neurological disorders in the Western Hemisphere. We explore the impacts of MS on employment, career development, and community living, and the implications for rehabilitation professionals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective in this article is to provide a current and comprehensive review of the etiology and symptoms, incidence and prevalence, and current treatment strategies for MS, and the effects of MS on vocational and psychosocial outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This analysis represents a comprehensive review of the relevant medical, vocational, community living, and rehabilitation research literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Living with MS is associated with wide-ranging and unpredictable effects on employment, career development, and community independence. Effective responses by health and rehabilitation professionals require a comprehensive understanding of this progressive and complex condition and its psychosocial impacts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Customized interventions from allied health professionals and rehabilitation counselors that are grounded in the unique features of MS and that reflect current best practices in Vocational Rehabilitation are required to improve rehabilitation outcomes for people with MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Rehabilitation Counseling, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Malachy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.affiliation: Centre for Disability Studies, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Phillip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Rumrill
mesh_terms: D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D057187:Independent Living; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational
keywords: Chronic illness; allied health; independent living; vocational rehabilitation