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UK Charity No 1131517
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UK Charity
No 1131517
Multiple Sclerosis
It is important to remember that MS is only one part of a person and not the person.
MS does not represent them, it is not their identity, they are as normal as the next person.
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Depression
It is thought that about half of all people with MS will experience an episode or episodes of depression at some stage. It is important to distinguish clinical depression from low mood.
Depression involves persistent sadness lasting more than two weeks, accompanied by other symptoms such as:
- An altered sleep pattern.
- Feelings of hopelessness.
- Guilt.
- Inability to concentrate -
cognitive problems. - Low self esteem.
- Pain (Pain may effect treatment for depression)
- Reduced energy -
fatigue - Thoughts of death.
- Unable to take pleasure in anything.
Depression associated with MS -
- That caused by MS.
- That caused by living with MS.
- That caused by the actions and attitudes of others.
- That caused by the manner in which the MS person is informed of their diagnosis.
- That caused by the indifference they experience from some clinicians.
- That caused by the manner of some social services representatives.
As with other long-
- The impact of symptoms on relationships with family and friends.
- Changes in employment or having no employment.
- Changes in the ability to take part in some tasks or pastimes.
- Severe financial restraints.
- Being left to fend for one-
selves - many MS people live alone and have only the social contact experience created by the daily visits of carers.
Treatment
Some of the drugs prescribed for other MS symptoms can also have an effect on mood, such as corticosteroids used in the treatment of relapses or the high toxic levels disease modifying drugs as well as the adverse side effects experienced by many MS people.
Depression can also be caused by MS itself, though how this happens is unknown. It is considered by some experts that the level of depression in MS is higher than in other neurological conditions, though again the reason for this is unclear.
Treatment of depression takes two forms: drug therapy and psychotherapy, often used in combination
- Selective serotonin re-
uptake inhibitors - SSRIs - e g: - Fluoxetine -
- Paroxetine -
- Imipramine -
- Amitriptyline.
Are also sometimes prescribed.
The psychotherapeutic approach may involve identifying the cause of depression, and trying to alter negative patterns of thinking and behaviour into a more positive approach.
Comment -
A drug sometimes prescribed for depression is known as a mono-
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