Discrepancies between capabilities and performance of activities of daily living in multiple sclerosis patients

Comparisons were made between capabilities in activities of daily living assessed by an occupational therapist and performance as reported by a relative in 25 patients with multiple sclerosis and 25 physically disabled non-brain-damaged patients. No significant differences were found between the two groups. However, discrepancies were found between patients' self-ratings and those of both occupational therapists and relatives, which were significantly greater in the multiple sclerosis group that the controls. These discrepancies were found to correlate with impairment on some measures of intellectual functioning.