An Overview of Multiple Sclerosis: Medical, Psychosocial, and Vocational Aspects of a Chronic and Unpredictable Neurological Disorder

This article presents an overview of multiple sclerosis (MS), one of the most common neurological disorders in the western hemisphere. Medical and psychosocial aspects of the disease such as causes and risk factors, diagnosis, incidence and prevalence, symptoms, courses, and treatment are described....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rehabilitation research, policy, and education policy, and education, 2015, Vol.29 (2), p.122-134
Main Authors: Rumrill, Phillip D., Roessler, Richard T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accessibility (for Disabled)
Advocacy
Clinical Diagnosis
Diseases
Employment Level
Employment Qualifications
Etiology
Health Care Administration and Management
Health Sciences
Human Factors Engineering
Incidence
Intervention
Medicine
Neurological Impairments
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Public Health
Risk
Self Disclosure (Individuals)
Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
Therapy
Work Environment
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Description
Summary:This article presents an overview of multiple sclerosis (MS), one of the most common neurological disorders in the western hemisphere. Medical and psychosocial aspects of the disease such as causes and risk factors, diagnosis, incidence and prevalence, symptoms, courses, and treatment are described. Existing research regarding the employment outcomes and concerns of people with MS, especially the factors associated with labor force participation, is reviewed. Intervention strategies to enable individuals with MS to retain their employment are discussed such as early education on the nature of MS, advocacy-supported disclosure, and accommodation techniques for symptom management at the workplace. Important workplace accommodations include flexible work hours and work breaks, ergonomic changes in equipment to address upper and lower body limitations, and job simplification or other compensatory strategies to minimize the impact of cognitive problems on job performance.
ISSN:2168-6653
2168-6661
DOI:10.1891/2168-6653.29.2.122