The most common depressive symptoms in MS include irritability, discouragement, memory/concentration problems, fatigue, insomnia and poor appetite. Guilt and poor self-esteem are rarer in these patients [10].
Mood changes
Worry, fear, moodiness, irritability and anxiety: normal reactions in the face of unpredictability; anyone can become irritable and anxious when faced with difficult challenges. Depression: one of the most common symptoms of MS.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder seen among individuals with MS. The lifetime prevalence of MDD is approximately 25% to 50%, which is approximately 2 to 5 times more common than in the general population.
MS can affect mood
worry, fear, moodiness, irritability and anxiety: normal in the face of unpredictability; anyone can become a bit irritable when faced with difficult challenges. depression is one of the most common symptoms of MS and a major risk factor for suicide.
Behavioral Changes. A person with MS may exhibit behavioral changes, sometimes even inappropriate behavior, such as impulsivity and social and/or sexual disinhibition. While this may be alarming, it's important to keep in mind that this disinhibition is a reflection of a person's disease.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Studies have shown that MS disrupts several social cognitive abilities [including empathy and theory of mind (ToM)].
Regarding the five-factor model (FFM) that deals with five core dimensions—neuroticism, extraversion, openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness [10]—MS patients usually show high neuroticism, loss of empathy, and low agreeableness, which are distinctive features of narcissism and histrionism.
Some people with multiple sclerosis find that they experience sudden episodes of uncontrollable laughing and/or crying at inappropriate times, or which are unrelated, or out of proportion, to their current mood.
A change in cognitive function — that is, cognitive dysfunction — is common in MS. More than half of all people with MS develop problems with cognition.
People with all types of MS can get cognitive problems, though for many people these symptoms are mild to moderate, not severe. Not everyone gets cognitive symptoms with MS. But some people notice them when they're newly diagnosed, others later on.
Fatigue is a side effect of nervous system damage and is one of the most common symptoms of MS, affecting up to 90% of people. Unlike ordinary fatigue, MS fatigue usually occurs more rapidly, lasts longer and takes longer to recover from.
Factors that may trigger MS include: Exposure to certain viruses or bacteria: Some research suggests that being exposed to certain infections (such as Epstein-Barr virus) can trigger MS later in life. Where you live: Your environment may play a role in your risk for developing MS.
While there are no definitive blood tests for diagnosing MS, they can rule out other conditions that may mimic MS symptoms, including Lyme disease, collagen-vascular diseases, rare hereditary disorders, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Multiple sclerosis (MS) can affect your ability to think, reason, concentrate or remember. Approximately 50% of people with MS will experience cognitive dysfunction. Learn more about this symptom and how to manage it. Cognitive dysfunction (otherwise known as brain fog) is a common yet invisible symptom of MS.
In relationships
People with MS and their partners tell us living with the condition can create both physical and emotional barriers, which can put a strain on relationships. For some couples, worries about MS and uncertainty about the future can cause a breakdown in communication and intimacy.
Study participants with MS were compared to a control group. The researchers found that people with MS were more likely to be angry (trait anger), have a higher intensity of anger (state anger), and express anger either outwardly or inwardly, as compared to the control group.
In their review, Stathopoulou and coworkers described the personality profiles of people with MS and highlighted changes characterized by increased irritability, agitation and apathy, as well as higher rates of psychiatric disorders, including personality disorders, owing to both brain damage and the psychosocial ...
Psychotic symptoms reported in MS patients include hallucinations and delusions (mostly paranoid), irritability/agitation, sleep disturbance, grandiosity, blunted affect, and rare symptoms like catatonia and transient catalepsy [45].
Narcissistic personality disorder involves a pattern of self-centered, arrogant thinking and behavior, a lack of empathy and consideration for other people, and an excessive need for admiration. Others often describe people with NPD as cocky, manipulative, selfish, patronizing, and demanding.
Findings from a 2022 study suggest that people with MS are at increased risk of Alzheimer's dementia at both younger (45 to 64) and older (65 and up) ages. Because Alzheimer's is diagnosed without any lab test, no current data is solid.
Constant fatigue is common for people with MS. This tiredness can impact all aspects of life, including effective brain use and the ability to go out and partake in activities. The symptoms of MS can cause constant discomfort and disability that limit a person's ability to go about daily activities.
Issues with your bladder or bowel, pain or temperature sensitivity could all cause anxiety or stress at work, and the common MS symptom of fatigue can make tasks seem overwhelming. Issues with memory, thinking or concentration can make it more difficult to focus.