The National MS Society is pleased to offer Psychosocial
Intervention in Multiple Sclerosis: Strategies for Mental Health
Professionals. Developed by the Clinical Care Department, the
program is offered by the Society at locations around the
country. Multiple sclerosis (MS), an immune-mediated disease of
the central nervous system, is diagnosed most commonly between
the ages of 20 and 50. Although MS was first described more than
140 years ago, the cause and cure are still unknown. Young
adults who are diagnosed with MS will be living with its impact
for decades. The symptoms, including fatigue, impaired
ambulation, visual disturbances, bowel and bladder problems, and
cognitive changes, vary from one individual to another and for
any given individual over time. The unpredictability of the
disease adds layers of complexity to the ordinary challenges of
daily life: career decisions, intimate relationships, domestic
routines, parenting, financial planning, and aging. Mental
health professionals are in a unique p