Behavioral interventions in multiple sclerosis: a biopsychosocial perspective. (September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Heesen, C; Köpke, S; Kasper, J; Poettgen, J; Tallner, A; Mohr, DC; Gold, SM
• Is Part Of: Expert review of neurotherapeutics. Volume 12:Number 9(2012)
• Page Start: 1089
• Page End: 1100
• Publication Date: 2012-09
• Subjects: behavioral interventions -- childhood trauma -- cognitive-behavioral therapy -- exercise -- mindfulness -- psychoneuroimmunology -- self-management -- stress response systems; Neuropharmacology -- Periodicals; 615.7805
• DOI: 10.1586/ern.12.103
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-7175

Abstract

Managing uncertainty is a major challenge associated with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). In addition to physical symptoms, neuropsychiatric symptoms are highly prevalent in this disease. Depression in particular is more common in MS than in other chronic diseases. While substantial achievements have been made in the therapy of MS and an increasing number of immunomodulatory treatments are now available, the long-term benefits of these are still a matter of debate. Importantly, while the approved therapies show good efficacy on inflammatory lesions and relapse rate, and may slow certain aspects of disease progression, improvements in function have rarely been reported. On the other hand, behavioral interventions have recently been shown to significantly improve fatigue and depression as well as motor function. In addition, recent evidence suggests that group education or face-to-face behavioral interventions may decrease inflammatory disease activity (such as relapse rate or lesion formation measured by MRI). Therefore, behavioral interventions not only ameliorate symptoms but may have the potential to modify the disease process itself.