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Understanding Routine Treatment and Resource Availability for Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis in the United Kingdom
Federica Picariello1, Madison Milne-Ives1, Jennifer Freeman2
1Health Psychology Section, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK, kcl.ac.uk.
Behavioural Neurology
|March 11, 2026
Summary
Healthcare services in the UK offer limited treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) fatigue, with only 28% of patients receiving interventions. This highlights a significant unmet need for effective MS fatigue management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Disabling fatigue affects 55-90% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).
- A prior survey indicated only 31% of UK adults with MS fatigue received treatment offers.
- Understanding the service perspective on MS fatigue management is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the current state of routine care for MS fatigue from a service provider viewpoint.
- To evaluate resource availability within UK healthcare services for managing MS fatigue.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional online survey was administered to National Health Service (NHS) services in the UK.
- Healthcare professionals working with people with MS completed the survey.
Main Results:
- Eighteen services participated, supporting a median of 1100 patients each.
- Availability of allied healthcare professionals was generally low across services.
- An estimated 28% of patients were receiving fatigue treatments on average.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms a substantial unmet need in MS fatigue management, aligning with patient-reported experiences.
- Resource limitations present a barrier to implementing new fatigue interventions.
- Future strategies must consider service capacity and resource allocation for successful MS fatigue management.
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