Disability rating with the IFMSS scales

The long-term continuous care program of the Göttingen MS Information and Counseling Unit is described. In 120 patients, analysis of environmental situation showed that 1/3 of the patients had endangered family situations, 2/3 were unemployed or pensioned and 2/3 were unable to do housework. 1/3 had unsatisfactory financial situations, 1/3 were in need of better housing, 2/3 required daily personal assistance, and in 1/3 transportation was possible only in special vehicles. An attempt is made to qualify the effort and cost/benefit relation to the unit. A summary of the performance-limiting disturbances showed that there were several severe and frequently occurring disturbances which are difficult to document with the IFMSS systems. To deal with this problem, clinical profiles were developed, examples of which are given.