The psychosocial impact of spasticity-related problems for people with multiple sclerosis: A focus group study

This focus group, qualitative study (N = 18) reports the psychosocial impac t, specifically, of spasticity symptoms on a sample of people with MS (mult iple sclerosis). MS, a chronic disabling disease which attacks the central nervous system, currently affects about 100,000 people in the UK and estima tes indicate that worldwide prevalence varies from around 10 to 250 per 100 ,000. The cause remains unknown and the rate of disease progression varies among individuals. The disease of MS itself has a severe impact on psycholo gical well-being and quality of life. However, there is little evidence abo ut the additional impact of the spasticity-related symptoms, which include involuntary muscle contractions, loss of dexterity, loss of balance, incont inence and pain. These are shown here to lead to further distress and embar rassment and to have a detrimental influence on emotional and social relati onships.