| Depression is the most common psychiatric disturbance to
affect people with multiple sclerosis. Depression in people with multiple
sclerosis is very high with approx. 50% of people developing the condition
at some stage during the course of the illness.
Depression is not a weakness. It is an illness. It
does not represent feeble-mindedness and obtaining treatment for depression
should be the same as obtaining treatment for any other illness.
Many people who have multiple sclerosis have undergone the
'trial by fire' of attending the doctor whilst under the impression
that the doctor thinks their illness is 'all in the head'.
Unfortunately, this can discourage people with multiple sclerosis,
or people who think they may have multiple sclerosis and are undergoing
investigations, from seeking treatment.
Depression is a symptom and is relatively easy to treat with
antidepressants.
Depression in multiple sclerosis can be the result of several things.
It can be what's known as reactive depression, where it is
a reaction to stressful and difficult life events, for example, developing
a chronic illness.
It can also be the result of the disease process itself where demyelination
of key areas of the central nervous system cause what is known as
organic depression.
Depression may also develop as a side effect to certain drugs
used to treat multiple sclerosis, therefore it is especially important
to seek treatment if you are taking one of the
multiple sclerosis drugs and develop the symptoms of depression.
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