Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
Post-traumatic stress disorder in people with multiple sclerosis: A narrative review
David E Freedman1, Jiwon Oh2, Anthony Feinstein3
1Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
None:
Psychiatric comorbidities are common in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Yet, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has received little attention to date. Grounded in an emerging literature on the impact of trauma on pwMS, this Topical Review synthesizes current evidence on PTSD in pwMS. Although 5%-16% of pwMS have PTSD, there remains uncertainty about whether the prevalence exceeds that seen in the general population. Nonetheless, PTSD may influence measures of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related disease activity, employment, and participation in healthcare. Preliminary data indicate no sex difference in PTSD in pwMS, in contrast to an elevated risk in females in the general population. Further work is needed to clarify the demographic and disease-related correlates of PTSD, and the effectiveness of potential treatments in pwMS. By summarizing existing knowledge, this review highlights avenues for future research to advance care for people with comorbid PTSD and MS.
Related Concept Videos
Multiple Sclerosis l: Introduction
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Psychological Responses to Stress