Cognitive–behavioral therapy: what benefits can it offer people with multiple sclerosis?

Abstract

Cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) originated as a treatment for emotional disorders. However, it is increasingly used to help people with chronic illnesses manage symptoms and improve psychosocial outcomes, such as depression and quality of life. In this article, we focus on uses of CBT in patients with multiple sclerosis, an incurable neurological disease that causes potentially debilitating symptoms and poses numerous challenges to psychological well-being. We examine the rationale for using CBT to deal with distress, symptoms, impairment and disease exacerbation and progression, and discuss examples of existing research on the efficacy and acceptability of these interventions. Finally, we consider areas where CBT could potentially benefit people with multiple sclerosis in the future. Ongoing challenges in this field are discussed.

Keywords::

• anxiety
• cognitive–behavioral therapy
• depression
• fatigue
• multiple sclerosis
• psychological adjustment

Financial disclosure & competing interests disclosure

Rona Moss-Morris holds grants from the UK Multiple Sclerosis Society for a trial of cognitive–behavioral therapy for adjustment to multiple sclerosis and a pilot trial of web-based cognitive–behavioral therapy for multiple sclerosis fatigue. Laura Dennison works on the adjustment to multiple sclerosis trial. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.