Importance and treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis : results of the MOVE 1 study

• Published in: Nervenarzt 2013-02, Vol.84 (2), p.214
• Main Authors: Henze, T, Flachenecker, P, Zettl, U K
• Format: Article
• Language: ger
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living - classification; Activities of Daily Living - psychology; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anticonvulsants - adverse effects; Anticonvulsants - therapeutic use; Attitude of Health Personnel; Comorbidity; Disability Evaluation; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Germany; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis - diagnosis; Multiple Sclerosis - drug therapy; Multiple Sclerosis - psychology; Muscle Relaxants, Central - adverse effects; Muscle Relaxants, Central - therapeutic use; Muscle Spasticity - diagnosis; Muscle Spasticity - drug therapy; Muscle Spasticity - psychology; Neurologic Examination; Patient Satisfaction; Quality of Life - psychology; Retrospective Studies; Self Medication
• ISSN: 1433-0407
• DOI: 10.1007/s00115-012-3724-1

The impact of spasticity induced by multiple sclerosis (MS) on patients and the applied treatment options have so far been insufficiently studied. This was a multicentre, retrospective, nationwide study of the care situation of MS spasticity in Germany from the perspective of both patients and physicians. In this study 414 patients (mean age 48.6 years, 64.3 % women) from 42 centres were analyzed: 27 % suffered from mild, 44 % from moderate and 29 % from severe spasticity. The most common comorbidities were depression and anxiety (25.6 %) and 94.9 % suffered from concomitant symptoms (e.g. fatigue and bladder disorders). The severity of spasticity and its consequences were assessed by both patients and physicians and 54.8 % of physicians were dissatisfied with available treatment options. The most frequently cited disadvantages of currently available antispastic treatment were adverse effects (95.2 %) und insufficient effectiveness (88.1 %) and one third of patients sought help by self-medication. This initial assessment of MS-induced spasticity in Germany showed that patients experienced severe impairment due to spasticity. Available treatment options were assessed as dissatisfying.