Mental Problems in MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the immune system attacks the nerves of the body. Patients with MS experience many different symptoms and complications, including mental problems and difficulties with the brain.

Emotional

• Patients with MS often experience emotional volatility, including bouts of both euphoria and depression. Often, patients have mood swings and might switch from one extreme to the other frequently.

Memory

• Patients with MS often experience problems relating to memory, particularly with recalling recently learned material quickly. Patients sometimes describe this sympton as forgetfulness, and they may misplace items or struggle to remember details.

Speech

• In some cases, patients with MS have difficulty thinking of an appropriate word to describe a set of circumstances or an object.

Planning

• Some patients with MS experience difficulty planning a course of action or series of steps. They also frequently grow tired from arduous mental tasks that require heavy concentration.

Anxiety

• Patients with MS sometimes have a feeling of nervousness or anxiety that has no real source or motivation, similar to generalized anxiety disorder.