[Change in subjective well being and physical complaints in multiple sclerosis patients within the scope of inpatient...

At the beginning and the end of a 4 to 6 weeks hospital treatment 141 patients with multiple sclerosis were investigated in order to measure changes in subjective well-being and reported symptoms. For this purpose we used self-rating scales (v. Zerssen's "Befindlichkeits-Skala" (state of well-being scale) and "Beschwerden-Liste" (complaints list). Data from treatment onset, as well as changes during treatment, were correlated with age, age at illness onset, duration of illness, disability score and neurological deficit, but also with differences in treatments and with social characteristics. At the time of discharge from hospital, two-thirds of the MS patients reported relief of symptoms, and three-quarters showed a much better general sense of well-being. In general a subdepressive state was found initially, and a normal relaxed mood at time of discharge. ACTH improved the patients well-being to a much greater extent when compared with matched MS patients without ACTH therapy. Reading aids for those with impaired vision, and especially relief of bladder dysfunction (which was found in 80% of the patients) led to an enhanced general sense of well-being, while ACTH did not lead to any greater relief of illness symptoms.