THE USE OF NONMEDICAL ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT IN MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS - A5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Forty-nine patients (22 males, 27 females) were examined and interview ed with 5 years interval in order to determine the extent of the use o f non-medical (alternative) treatment and whether the use influenced t he natural course of multiple sclerosis (MS). Using clinical course, K urtzke Disability Status scale, bladder and bowel function, neuropsych ological tests, psychological tests, divorce and self-assessment score as parameters, it was found that non-medical treatment did not alter the course of MS. To confirm this result a clinical trial in a control led design is needed. The use of non-medical treatment declined over t he 5 years from 55% to 27%. The use of non-medical treatment could be interpreted as an indicator of psycho-social difficulties in MS patien ts.